I keep seeing posts about the NIH cuts. But the only posts I have see about NSF imply things aren’t as bad? The optimist in me is hoping this is true but wanted to ask here first.
Also from firsthand experience the admin emails I have gotten from the NSF during these times have been way more comforting than the insane updates coming out of the NIH. But still not sure what to make of it. I also know NSF is a fraction of the funding of NIH so it could be that it just doesn’t make the news as much.
Comments
Even if there are no cuts to NSF, we still get more people drinking from the same whale
Personal experience is that NSF grants are somewhat moving forward: I’ve had colleagues with CAREERS awarded and money transferred. We have a grant that was “recommended for funding” in January by a retiring PM, now new one said “yeah we’re going slow but we’ll get to you”. All these in climate-adjacent field. Again NSF is a bit too little visible and complex to be at the center of the discussion right now as they have bigger and less popular fishes to fry. But things will change at a moment’s notice…
Well FWIW Project 2025 is proposing to cut about 70% of the NSF’s funding so make of that what you will.
We had a friend at NSF lose their job, for what it’s worth.
I wouldn’t be surprised. NIH is under the purview of RFK Jr., while the NSF is an independent agency. So, the NIH is affected by the general Project 2025 shock therapy, and RFK Jr.’s own brand of craziness. NSF is only affected by the first of these things.
At schools with tenure track positions which are not soft money but where getting a grant is expected for tenure, has anyone talked to their chair and administration about whether tenure requirements will shift?
The NIH budget is ~5x that of the NSF budget so the focus on the NIH is mostly due to it being a more substantial portion of the overall research support. I there is a lot of noise about DEI in the NSF as well, but at the end of the day it represents less money.
I tend to think that nih was just the first….and other agencies’ cuts are yet to be determined / announced. Maybe won’t be as severe? Who knows…
Manage several nsf projects. We aren’t on a formal hiring freeze but none of the PIs willing to hire or extend funding to PhD students for next year until we feel more comfortable that there won’t work stoppages, clawbacks or failure to disburse the next grant year’s funds.
ETA – and no, none of these projects are DEI.
For now.
Agreeing with “for now.”
I imagine it helps that the head of the NSF is a Trump appointee from last time around, so maybe he’s been given more leeway.
Mostly, sshhhhhhhhh don’t remind them we exist! I want to keep my salary!