Trump Administration Dismisses National Science Board Members

The Trump administration dismissed all 22 members of the National Science Board on April 24, 2026, according to emails sent to the members and confirmed by multiple sources including dismissed board members and a White House official. The board oversees the National Science Foundation and provides advice to the president and Congress on science and engineering policy.

The dismissals were effective immediately, with no specific reason provided in the emails, as stated by affected members.

The National Science Board was established in 1950 under the National Science Foundation Act, with members appointed by the president to six-year staggered terms and confirmed by the Senate. Current members include experts from fields such as astronomy, mathematics, chemistry, and aerospace engineering, affiliated with institutions like Vanderbilt University and the University of Southern California.

The board approves major awards and sets policy for the foundation's activities.

" The official added that "the National Science Foundation's work continues uninterrupted" during this period. The dismissals occurred ahead of the board's scheduled May 5, 2026, meeting to release a report on U.S. competitiveness in science relative to China, according to Ars Technica.

This move follows other administration actions related to the National Science Foundation, including a proposal last year to reduce its $9 billion budget by more than half, though Congress did not approve the cuts. Similar budget proposals are under consideration for the next fiscal year.

The foundation relocated to a smaller headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, with its previous building reassigned to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Last year, the administration terminated hundreds of active research grants and reduced staff, according to reports from affected researchers cited in The New York Times.