The National Science Foundation terminated 170 employees last month amid broader federal research cutbacks, sparking concerns from tech industry groups about the impact on scientific expertise and workforce stability.

NSF announced layoffs affecting about 10% of its workforce, firing 168 employees, including probationary staff and expert contract workers, as a part of compliance with an executive order from the Trump administration. The decision, which extended beyond the initially demanded cuts, sparked emotional backlash and harsh criticism from staff and lawmakers.

NSF is confronting the threat of massive layoffs and significant budget cuts following an official communication from the White House Office of Personnel Management. Senior leadership reportedly instructed staff to spread the message while ordering them not to discuss the news, a move raising concerns about transparency and worker rights amid politically driven cost-cutting measures.

The National Science Foundation has initiated a comprehensive review of its 40,000 grant portfolio to ensure compliance with President Trump’s directives targeting 'woke' initiatives. This involves temporarily blocking funds and archiving long-standing programs, a move that raises concerns around the integrity of the merit review process and the undermining of diversity, equity, and inclusion in scientific research.

Following directives from President Donald Trump, the NSF halted access to funds and began reviewing billions in already-awarded grants for features deemed noncompliant with bans on 'woke' initiatives such as diversity, equity, inclusion, and support for environmental and social programs. The agency also archived longstanding programs that could contravene the executive orders, leaving researchers uncertain and jeopardizing academic freedom.

The National Science Foundation has initiated a review process of its already awarded grants, freezing funds and vetting projects for topics tied to diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental initiatives in compliance with a series of presidential directives from Donald Trump. This policy shift has raised significant concerns among scientists and union representatives about academic freedom, ethical award practices, and worker rights.

A new interim staff report from the House Judiciary Committee released on February 6, 2024 alleges that the National Science Foundation provided multi‐million‐dollar grants to university and non-profit research teams to develop AI-driven censorship and propaganda tools. The projects are said to aim at restricting dissenting viewpoints and blacklisting media critical of NSF-funded efforts.