Keith’s note: according to this NSF press release “From distant stars and galaxies to asteroids whizzing through the solar system, this next-generation facility unveils its first imagery and brings the night sky to life like never before.” This amazing instrument will be used by NASA astronomers as well as people around the world. Yet another example of American leadership in space science and technology. But does NASA.gov mention it? No. @NASA? No. OSTP director Kratsios was at the event today and made comments about the importance of science and technology while OSTP simultaneously endorses cuts across the Federal government. He also referred to this as an “all of government” instrument. Yet NASA seems to be ignoring it. WTF NASA OCOMM?

Keith’s note: In April, the Administration abruptly dissolved 12 federal advisory committees tasked with guiding various NSF directories and programs. The committees comprised around 200 leaders in the sciences along with business, education and policy experts. On 21 May 2025 89 members of the recently dissolved committees sent a letter to the acting director of the NSF, the chair of the National Science Board, and the chairs and ranking members of the committees of the Senate and House of Representatives with oversight responsibility for the NSF. The letter makes the case to the administration that the disestablishment of the committees, along with numerous other extremely concerning policy decisions taken by the administration, threatens American leadership in the sciences and poses a significant risk to the American economy. Full letter below

Keith’s note: The current Administration’s erasure of science across various government agencies is being dialed up. NOAA has been hit. Now NSF is getting whacked. And you should know NASA is not going to escape. According to this AAAS/Science article: NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions: “The National Science Foundation (NSF), already battered by White House directives and staff reductions, is plunging into deeper turmoil. According to sources who requested anonymity for fear of retribution, staff were told today that the agency’s 37 divisions—across all eight NSF directorates—are being abolished and the number of programs within those divisions will be drastically reduced. The current directors and deputy directors will lose their titles and might be reassigned to other positions at the agency or elsewhere in the federal government.” House Science Committee Democrats are weighing in on NSF issues as well: (below)

Keith’s note: according to NSF director to resign amid grant terminations, job cuts, and controversy at Science: “Although Panchanathan, known as Panch, didn’t give a reason for his sudden departure, orders from the White House to accept a 55% cut to the agency’s $9 billion budget next year and fire half its 1700-person staff may have been the final straws in a series of directives Panchanathan felt he could no longer obey. “He was trying so hard to present the agency in a positive light,” says one knowledgeable source who asked to remain anonymous because of the sensitivity of their position. “But at the same time, Panch knew that he was alienating himself from the scientific community by being tone deaf to their growing concerns about the fate of the agency we all love.”

Keith’s note: now that budget cuts and layoffs are approaching, government science agencies are starting to come up with the public-facing rationale for these draconian cuts. Mostly, it is word salad that often smells like Chatbot babbling and wonky talking points which drive home the same points again and again and again. In addition, NSF no longer seems to be interested in assuring the validity of scientific information used by decision makers and the general public. You can expect to see stuff like this coming out of NASA soon. Oh yes: The globe in the NSF logo is surrounded by people holding hands. The people icons are painted in shades of brown-gold, from light at the top to dark at the bottom. Sounds like diversity to me. Let’s see if they change this. Here is Statement of NSF priorities posted on 18 April. Excerpts – plus a response from House Science Committee Democrats : (below)

Keith’s note: NSF has ended a long list of Internal advisory committees but is keeping FACA committees: According to an internal NSF memo: “What is the status of NSF’s advisory committees?”: “Consistent with the President’s February 19, 2025, executive order, Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, the following federal advisory committees are disestablished as of April 15, 2025:” (long list below)

“This video, that starts with a view of the top of Tower 4, was taken from the vantage point of an Arecibo Observatory drone, utilized for monitoring the condition of Tower 4 support cables.” More: Video Of The Collapse Of the Arecibo Observatory

NSF requires institutions to report sexual harassment findings, Science “The National Science Foundation (NSF) in Alexandria, Virginia, announced today a new set of measures to combat sexual harassment by people working on the projects it funds. The steps may include suspending or eliminating research grants after an institution finds that a grantee committed harassment. NSF said it will require institutions to tell the agency when they make such a finding. […]

Statement on NSF Record of Decision on Arecibo Observatory, NSF “On Nov. 15, 2017, the National Science Foundation (NSF) signed its Record of Decision for the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. This important step concludes the agency’s decision-making process with respect to the general path forward for facility operations in a budget-constrained environment and provides the basis for a future decision regarding a new collaborator.”

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Initiate Section 106 Consultation for Proposed Changes to Green Bank Observatory Operations, Green Bank, West Virginia and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings and Comment Period, NSF “The NSF Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Division of Astronomical Sciences, through a series of academic community-based reviews, has identified the need to divest several facilities from its portfolio. This would allow NSF […]