The National Science Foundation (NSF) terminated nearly 170 employees during a Zoom call, aligning with the Trump administration's efforts to downsize the federal workforce. Many affected were previously assured of job security after completing their probationary period. The NSF faced a critical challenge, having to ensure research integrity and funding evaluation with reduced staff overhead. Concerns were raised regarding the impact on unconventional projects and the feasibility of relying on automated systems for complex decision-making, highlighting uncertainty in the future of scientific funding and support.
"It is hard to imagine this being accomplished successfully with automated algorithms. With fewer program officers to steward the evaluation process..."
"Earlier this month, however, these permanent workers were suddenly told by NSF that their one-year probationary period should have been two years..."
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