Sethuraman Panchanathan has resigned as head of the National Science Foundation, a departure linked to President Trump's drastic cuts to the agency's budget and active research awards. The Trump administration's approach has significantly impacted the American scientific landscape, affecting institutions such as the NIH and NASA, and raising questions about the value of science in fostering innovation and competitive advantage. The current research ecosystem thrives on publicly-funded, long-term collaborations that generate economic and societal benefits, yet recent actions imply a disturbing shift in prioritization of scientific investment and support.
Late yesterday, Sethuraman Panchanathan, whom President Trump hired to run the National Science Foundation five years ago, has quit. He didn't say why, but it was clear enough: Last weekend, Trump cut more than 400 active research awards from the N.S.F.
The Trump administration has targeted the American scientific enterprise, slashing budgets at major research institutions and firing or defunding thousands of researchers, leading to widespread confusion about the role of science.
American research thrives under a patronage system that funnels congressionally approved dollars to universities, national labs and institutes. This knowledge factory employs tens of thousands of researchers.
By some measures, every dollar spent on research returns at least $5 to the economy, highlighting the significant value that scientific funding provides.
#sethuraman-panchanathan #national-science-foundation #trump-administration #scientific-research #budget-cuts
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