The National Science Foundation – An independent federal agency that finances scientific research worldwide – has dismissed 168 convations in membership of the White House orders, according to a spokesperson for the agency.
The layoffs, from Tuesday, were made to ensure compliance with a framework order Emitted by President Donald Trump last week, the NSF spokesman told CBS Moneywatch in an email. The NSF had 1,450 employees before Tuesday job cuts, the spokesperson said. The 168 dismissed workers represent approximately 12% of this number.
Federal workers who are in a period of probation are still in a trial period which generally extends for one to two years of employment. These workers, who have not yet acquired protection from the public service, are currently at the center of Widespread Cups In several agencies as part of President Trump’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal government.
“We thank these employees for their service at the NSF and their contributions to advance the agency’s mission,” said the spokesman.
The NSF also employs around 200 people from research institutions on a temporary basis.
The agency was created by Congress in 1950 to promote science and engineering, advance public health and contribute to the defense of the country, according to its website. The NSF provides a quarter of federal support for basic research in the country’s colleges and universities. There was a budget nearly $ 9.1 billion during the year 2024.
NSF funds projects Including research stations in Antarctica and astronomy observatories.
Trump’s initial attempt to reduce the labor market was the Delayed resignation programWho offered to pay people until September 30 if they agreed to stop. The White House said that 75,000 people had registered and that a federal judge had authorized a legal roadblock last week for the program to progress.
However, the number of workers who took the delayed resignation offer was less than the objective of the administration. The Trump administration intended its efforts on Thursday to Reduce the size of the federal workforceThe country’s largest employer, by ordering agencies to dismiss almost all probationary employees.
contributed to this report.