Elon Musk compares Doge and federal subsidies to “save pandas babies”
Doge Head, Elon Musk, compared federal subsidies to “save pandas babies” during an interview on Fox News.
Washington – The National Science Foundation canceled 73 additional subsidies on May 9, while the Ministry of Government efficiency continues to win the agency’s projects, according to several sources with direct knowledge of changes.
The agency also announced in a service note obtained by USA Today that it eliminates its division of actions for excellence in the STEM team. The Memo indicates that the agency dismiss around 70 employees. The agency plans to eliminate around 300 additional temporary positions. And employees who have worked at a distance for years will have to start working at the NSF headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, June 16.
The equity division for excellence in STEM has favored “diversity, equity and inclusion in the STEMs by removing barriers and supporting the full participation of under-represented groups in the fields of science and engineering”, according to a web page deleted from the NSF website May 9.
The day before, leadership announced that it radically restructuring The agency that has financed non -medical scientific research for almost 75 years, while the Trump administration is looking to Cut more than half of its budget During the coming fiscal year.
“The NSF mission is to promote the progress of science, to advance national health, prosperity and well-being, and to ensure national defense,” said a spokesperson for the NSF in a statement. “It is our priority to guarantee that all NSF prices aim to create opportunities for all Americans around the world, without exclusion of any group. NSF remains determined to examine and finance proposals aligned on the agency’s priorities.”
The cancellations of subsidies mark the third wave of layoffs to upset the agency in recent weeks. In total, the NSF has stopped more than 1,400 projects worth more than a billion dollars, according to a public list cancelled subsidies maintained by non -profit researchers Ropensci and Harvard University.
On April 30, the staff were invited to cease new grants. USA TODAY previously reported That the agency also announced a break in “additional rewards”, which provide additional funding to projects in the event of unforeseen expenses, and that agency managers have warned that they should make significant workforce. “
Many licensed subsidies have been presented by the Ministry of Government efficiency “DEI waste“Funding and many align with A 2024 report Published by the Senator of Texas, Ted Cruz, identifier of projects, he had been “politicized”.
But several of the subsidies are not openly linked to the anti-dei initiatives of the administration. Several projects focus on improving the performance of artificial intelligence, A declared priority For the president Donald TrumpThe second term, or the impacts of environmental factors such as climate change.
DOGE staff came to the NSF headquarters at the end of April. A few days later, the agency announced that it adjust your priorities To eliminate the rewards “with a narrower impact limited to the sub-groups of people as a function of the class or the protected characteristics”, including those linked to “diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and disinformation / disinformation”.
In addition to the subsidy changes, the agency director, Sethuraman Panchanathan, suddenly resigned from its position at the end of last month. Panchanathan was appointed to the head of the agency during Trump’s first term.
A group of 13 universities continues the administration on sudden financing changes, which include A decision of May 2 To limit reimbursements to research partners for indirect costs. The group includes the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Chicago, the Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania.
Dramatic changes to the agency – which finances fundamental scientific research which can become the foundation of Widely used technology Like artificial intelligence, 3D printing, Lasik eye surgery, MRI and semiconductors – occur in the midst of continuous reduction by the Trump administration of the federal government.
The DOGE project led by Trump Advisor Elon Musk almost eliminated Several government agencieslicensee hundreds of thousands Federal workers and eliminated federal subsidies and contracts.
Musk estimates that the project has saved $ 165 billion, although it had already done so Cut 2 dollars.
(This article has been updated to add new information.)