National Science Foundation fires 10% of workforce on Trump's order
What's the story
The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has laid off nearly 10% of its workforce. The layoffs were announced on Tuesday, with 168 employees being let go.
The move is part of an effort to comply with President Donald Trump's executive order to reduce the federal workforce for efficiency purposes.
Prior to this, nearly 1,700 staff members were employed at NSF.
Meeting details
Layoffs announced in emergency meeting
The layoffs were announced at an emergency meeting, held on Zoom and in person.
Micah Cheatam, NSF's Chief Management Officer, told the staff they would be terminated by the end of the day without severance.
However, NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan, who ordered these firings, was absent from this meeting.
Workforce reduction
Concerns over impact on research and development
The layoffs mainly impacted officers who manage research programs, evaluate grants, and decide which projects to fund.
One of the dismissed consultants raised concerns over how the layoffs would affect the US's ability to train people in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors.
The consultant warned that this could severely hamper our ability to do that work, forcing us to continue relying on foreign workers who are getting that training and coming into this country.
Staff changes
NSF targets probationary and temporary employees
The layoffs specifically targeted probationary employees, who have less job protection than permanent staff but still need to be fired for cause.
All "intermittent experts," who are temporary employees usually hired for specific subject matter expertise, were also let go.
In their termination notices, these probationary employees were told that based on their performance, it was not in the public interest to continue their employment at the agency.
Staff reclassification
Reclassification and termination of permanent employees
Some permanent employees were also impacted by the layoffs. They were reclassified as probationary in January, without explanation, under the direction of the White House Office of Personnel Management.
One such employee had resigned from a tenured faculty position to join NSF permanently but was among those let go.