Research and developments is a blog for brief updates that provide a context for the burst of news concerning changes in law and politics that have an impact on science and scientists today.
The staff of the National Science Foundation (NSF) was informed on June 25 that the agency’s office space, located in Alexandria, Virginia, will be taken up by the staff of the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD), raising the question of where more than 1,800 NSF employees will work.
An NSF employee said E & E News That they had “a literally zero idea”, the news was going to arrive until the word spread among the staff the day before. Many NSF employees had moved to northern short -term virginia when the return to work orders were issued in January. NSF entered the newly built building in 2017 from its previous location in Arlington, Virginia.
In front of a banner reading “The New Golden Age of Hud” on June 25 press conferenceHud secretary Scott Turner announced that a “staggered and thoughtful” relocation process would take place. Relocation will advance “as quickly as possible”, Michael PetersPublic Commissioner Buildings Service for the US General Services Administration, said at the press conference.
On June 24, Jesus Soriano, President of the local section 3403 of the American Federation of Government employees (AGFE), a union representing the staff of the NSF, sent an alert to the members of the union informing them that “HUD will take up the NSF building” and that the NSF had not been involved in the decision, according to the decision, according to E & E News.
The speakers of the press conference did not provide details on HUD’s plans for space. In a declarationLocal 3403 section of the ACFE indicated that the union had been informed that the plans would include an executive suite for Turner, the construction of a new executive dining room, the exclusive use of an elevator for Turner and a gymnasium for Turner and his family.
“While Secretary Turner and its staff are busy enjoying private catering and a personalized gym, NSF employees are moved without plan, without communication and without respect,” the local section 3403 wrote in the press release.
Turner reprimanded the idea that this decision was about personal advantages. “It’s not about Scott Turner. I didn’t come to the government to get beautiful things,” said Turner. “These are HUD employees.”
Turner added that dangerous working conditions in the current HUD office space in Washington, DC were the reason for this decision. “I hope that no leader of the government or otherwise would expect the staff to work in an atmosphere where the air quality is questionable, the leaks are almost unstoppable and the CVC is almost impracticable. It’s time to change. “
Addressing the upcoming transition for NSF, Peters said: “We will continue to support the National Science Foundation while we support each agency of the federal government to identify the space which allows them to continue to fulfill its mission.”
In its declaration, the Local 3403 section of the ACFE asked for the merit of the resettlement plan: “At a time when they claim to reduce government waste, it is incredible that the government’s financing is redirected to a palace type office for the secretary of housing and urban development. Hypocrisy is really stupid. ”
– Grace Van Deelen (@ gvd.bsky.social), Editor
These updates are made possible thanks to information from the scientific community. Do you have a story about how changes in law or policy affect scientists or research? Send us a tip to (Protected by e-mail).
