WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Trump terminated all 22 members of the National Science Board, effective immediately. The White House has not given any reason for dismissing the board members or provided information on when they will be replaced.

An email from the presidential personnel office stated, "On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I'm writing to inform you that your position as a member of the National Science Board is terminated, effective immediately. Thank you for your service."

The National Science Board is an independent advisory body that establishes policies for the National Science Foundation. It is typically made up of 25 scientists and engineers from universities and industry across the nation, appointed by the U.S. president and traditionally serving six-year terms. Some positions on the board were vacant at the time of the terminations.

Keivan Stassun, a professor of physics and astronomy at Vanderbilt University and director of the Vanderbilt Initiative in Data-intensive Astrophysics who has served on the board since 2022, said, "The termination represented a wholesale evisceration of American leadership in science and technology globally." He added, "What it means is that there won't be any practical impediments to the administration essentially enacting their own budget and priorities and ignoring Congress' directives or congressional law."

Stassun also said, "The genesis of it was to recognize that the world was increasingly being won or lost on the basis of scientific and technological capability. The National Science Foundation is the singular agency within our government that has as its focus making sure that we stay ahead in basic science, technological developments, training the next generation of scientists and engineers."

The National Science Foundation director position has remained vacant for over a year, since Sethuraman Panchanathan resigned in April 2025. The agency has a budget of over $9 billion and supports fundamental research and education across all non-medical fields of science and engineering.

Yolanda Gil, a research professor of computer science and spatial sciences and principal scientist at USC Information Sciences Institute who has served on the board since 2024, said, "Given that the NSF director position has been vacant for a year, and that the NSB's main role is governing NSF, the agency is left in a very precarious position." She said, "I think this is one more indication of the sweeping changes that the administration is planning for the National Science Foundation," adding that the White House had proposed drastic reductions in the NSF budget over the last two years and that the foundation had reductions of personnel in recent months.

In March, Trump nominated James O'Neill, a venture capitalist and biotech investor who served as deputy secretary of Health and Human Services, to lead the National Science Foundation. O'Neill has not appeared before Congress for a hearing on his nomination. Gil said, "Traditionally, NSF directors have had a solid research career and strong familiarity with NSF processes," and added, "O'Neill's background in finance and investments may be an indication that the administration has a different idea of how to run a science agency like NSF."

Representative Zoe Lofgren, the ranking Democrat on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, said, "This is the latest stupid move made by a president who continues to harm science and American innovation." She said, "It is no surprise a president who has attacked NSF from day one would seek to destroy the board that helps guide the foundation." Lofgren also said, "Will the president fill the NSB with MAGA loyalists who won't stand up to him as he hands over our leadership in science to our adversaries? A real bozo the clown move."

Last year, the Trump administration dismissed dozens of experts from National Institutes of Health science review boards who provided independent evaluations for biomedical research.