Over 2,500 scientists have urged Congress to reinstate the National Science Foundation's oversight board, which President Trump dismissed. In a letter sent Monday, they called the dismissal an "alarming attack" on research funding that could leave the United States at a disadvantage against rivals, particularly China.

The NSF has distributed roughly $9 billion annually in research grants in recent years, funding much of the nation's public science research from artificial intelligence to astronomy. As of May 1, the agency had committed only 10% of its congressionally appropriated funds—roughly half what it had awarded by this point in previous fiscal years. Congress ultimately approved $8.75 billion for fiscal 2026, a modest reduction from the prior year's $9.1 billion allocation.

The White House justified the board's dismissal by pointing to a 2021 Supreme Court decision regarding governance at another government agency. However, former board members warn the agency now faces a "very precarious position" without leadership. Trump's latest budget proposal seeks to cut NSF funding to approximately $4.9 billion—a reduction exceeding 40%.