Scientists lose jobs and grants as US government shutdown takes a toll

"The shutdown of the US government, about to enter its third week, is starting to take a toll on US science. Since the shutdown began, the administration of US President Donald Trump has cancelled funding for clean-energy research projects and laid off public-health workers. The activities of some federally funded museums and laboratories have been suspended, along with the processing of grant applications by agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF)."

"The Trump administration said in a court filing Friday that it will lay off 4,100- 4,200 federal employees, an action officially termed a reduction in force (RIF). The Trump administration invoked the absence of a spending bill as justification for the layoffs, which are an unprecedented measure during a shutdown. Unions representing federal workers have filed suit over the layoffs."

"Starting Friday night, some 1,300 staff members of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received RIF notices, although the notices for 700 were quickly rescinded, according to Local 2883 of the American Federation of Government Employees, a union representing CDC employees. The layoffs would "undermine the nation's ability to respond to public health emergencies," a CDC staff member affected by the layoff said Tuesday at a news conference organized by Local 2883."

The US government shutdown has entered its third week and is affecting scientific enterprise and public health. The administration cancelled funding for clean-energy research projects and laid off public-health workers. Some federally funded museums and laboratories suspended activities and agencies such as the National Science Foundation paused processing grant applications. Funding expired on 1 October after Congress failed to pass a spending bill; partisan negotiations have stalled over health-care subsidy extensions. The administration filed to lay off 4,100–4,200 federal employees, an unprecedented move during a shutdown, and unions have filed suit. Hundreds of CDC staff received reduction-in-force notices, raising concerns about emergency response and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Read at Nature