Lofgren, House Democrats Condemn Termination of National Science Board Members

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) led 31 Democratic Members in sending a letter(link is external) to President Donald Trump regarding his legally dubious April 24, 2026, termination of all 22 Members of the National Science Board (NSB). The NSB advises Congress and the President on the activities of the National Science Foundation (NSF), and it has served this function since the creation of NSF in 1950. In their letter, the Members call into question the legal basis of this decision and demand that President Trump reinstate the Board immediately.

The Members wrote in their letter(link is external), "Firing the Board was essentially a middle finger to Congressional intent, making your spokesperson's claim that you 'look forward to working with the Hill to update the statute and ensure the NSB can perform its duties as Congress intended' particularly ludicrous. We still await your outreach on this matter."

The Members continued, "The writing is on the wall, and it spells disaster for our scientific excellence. For over 75 years, the National Science Foundation has been the envy of the world. Our allies and adversaries alike have sought to emulate it, so they could attempt to nurture similarly boundary-pushing scientific ecosystems. Amongst our own scientific agencies, it is a crown jewel, setting the standard for scientific excellence. Purging the 22 scientists who are responsible for guiding NSF is the nail in the coffin for an agency that has weathered 15 months of attacks by you and your ignorant cronies."

Read the letter here(link is external).

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