ASBMB statement on dismissal of National Science Board

The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology strongly objects to the arbitrary dismissal of all 24 highly qualified experts serving on the National Science Board in the middle of their six-year terms. For decades, the National Science Board has overseen the National Science Foundation, a federal agency that serves as the backbone of the American scientific enterprise. This group, composed of world-class academic and industrial leaders in fields across the NSF portfolio of natural and physical sciences, provided insight and leadership to NSF on many fronts, and we thank them for their service.

Removing the entire board, alongside the absence of a permanent NSF director, creates a national leadership vacuum at a moment when strong, experienced guidance is most needed. This decision erodes public trust in federal science and jeopardizes the United States’ standing as a global leader in science and technology. With intensifying international competition, the U.S. must promptly rebuild the leadership and stability of these premier research and training programs in the physical and biological sciences. Restoring independent, expert-led governance is essential for the American scientific enterprise to continue to drive national prosperity, health, and security.