Sethuraman Panchanathan has stepped down from his position as Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), according to a report from Science Magazine. His resignation, which occurred unexpectedly on Thursday, leaves 16 months remaining in his six-year tenure.
No specific reasons were given for Panchanathan’s resignation. The NSF, which helps direct federal funding for scientific research, is currently navigating significant challenges exacerbated by the Trump administration. The agency is facing a proposed 55 percent reduction in its $9 billion annual budget for the next fiscal year, alongside plans for massive layoffs impacting half of its workforce, which totals 1,700 employees, as highlighted by Science.
On April 24, a memo that circulated among NSF staff indicated that the agency anticipates substantial budget cuts. This communication confirmed the re-offering of an earlier “fork in the road” initiative, which allows staff a chance to accept paid leave while departing the organization before October. Those who choose to stay could confront “future restructuring, staffing reductions, and constrained budget environments,” potentially limiting available opportunities within the NSF.
In a related development, the NSF recently announced the cancellation of active grants totaling approximately $1 billion. This decision was attributed to a shift in agency priorities, affecting research areas such as environmental justice, the spread of misinformation, and efforts to enhance diversity within the scientific community. The New York Times reported that more than 400 active NSF grants have been terminated up to this point.
