NSF Fires 10% of Workforce

The National Science Foundation fired 168 of its 1700 employees, targeted at probationary employees and temporary “intermittent expert” employees brought in for specific expertise. 

NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan ordered the firings but did not attend the meeting where workers were told. Chief Management Officer Micah Cheatham had to do it instead.

Firings were effective the day notice was given. No severance will be paid. Even for probationary employees, firing is supposed to be for cause. Like other agencies, NSF’s termination notice cited “based on your performance” as cause even though many of the discarded workers have exemplary performance records and some have won performance awards.

NSF provides about one quarter of basic research done in the USA. Basic research is typically not glamorous but provides the bedrock necessary before major advances can be made.

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