#grant-cuts

#grant-cuts

Nine months into President Donald Trump's second term in office, he and his education secretary Linda McMahon have essentially gutted the 45-year-old Department of Education as they work toward their "final mission" of shutting it down. First, they cut millions in grants and terminated hundreds of contracts. Then, they eliminated nearly 2,000 employees via buyouts and layoffs, slashing the department's staff from just over 4,000 to about 2,400.

Research funding in the US faces significant threats, particularly regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, resulting in serious consequences for underrepresented researchers.

"Research projects with more narrow impact limited to subgroups of people based on protected class or characteristics do not effectuate NSF priorities," the agency's director, Sethuraman Panchanathan, wrote.