The Trump administration implemented significant workforce reductions at the National Science Foundation, an independent agency noted for supporting advanced scientific research. According to Michael England, a spokesperson for the NSF, the agency dismissed 168 employees who were on probation out of a previous total of roughly 1,450 career employees.
However, the situation appears to be more complex. An NSF employee, speaking anonymously due to fears of retaliation, claimed that only about half of the employees fired were actually on probation, suggesting that a sizable portion of the layoffs involved more experienced or senior staff.
This development is part of a larger directive issued by the Trump administration last week, which ordered various agencies to terminate most of the estimated 200,000 federal workers on probation. Department-wide layoffs have been rolling out, with some agencies already shedding over a thousand employees, while others, such as the Internal Revenue Service, are set to announce additional layoffs in the coming days.
7 Comments
Raphael
We need to prioritize core research and eliminate unnecessary duplication of efforts. These layoffs are a step in the right direction.
Michelangelo
Let's focus on finding solutions that will benefit the American people in the long run.
Raphael
Finally, some accountability! It's about time the government stopped wasting taxpayer money on unnecessary personnel.
Leonardo
These layoffs are part of a larger effort to reduce the size and scope of government. This will ultimately benefit taxpayers.
Donatello
The NSF is overstaffed and inefficient. These layoffs are necessary to streamline operations and improve performance.
Habibi
This is a complex issue with no easy answers. We need to have a civil and respectful dialogue about the future of science funding.
Comandante
We need to resist this attack on science. Contact your elected officials and demand they stand up for research and innovation.