Federal government agency significantly reduces career executive positions following a workforce reduction of about one-third.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is currently undergoing a series of transformative changes, as outlined by recent announcements from the Trump administration.

In early October, the Reduction in Force (RIF) will take effect, marking the elimination of Senior Executive Service (SES) roles within the organisation. This move is part of a broader initiative to streamline the agency and better align with its priorities.

The RIF has been met with controversy, as NSF has already cancelled hundreds of its research grants in April and scrapped an additional 1,600 active grants. At a press conference, NSF Director Jesus Soriano acknowledged that the current situation is unprecedented, with members facing retaliation, mass terminations, and the illegal withholding of billions in research funding.

The RIF was initially paused due to a federal court injunction in California, but the Supreme Court has since lifted the block, allowing NSF to move forward with the cuts. Those who do not hold "fallback rights" (entitling them to vacant lower positions) will be separated if they do not accept their new assignments. However, NSF has assured that employees will not be separated from the agency if they accept their new assignments.

The Trump administration has also proposed slashing NSF's budget by 56% in fiscal 2026, further exacerbating the staffing issues. Last week, 149 NSF employees sent a letter to Congress warning about staffing cuts and disruptions threatening the agency's mission and independence.

The decision to eliminate positions was made after NSF assessed its future mission requirements and identified the need to enhance efficiency. As a result, the agency has lost one-third of its staff, or nearly 600 employees, since January. The exact number of SES employees to be removed through workforce reduction is unknown, but NSF previously communicated that the agency would go from 143 SES positions down to 59.

In addition to the elimination of SES positions, NSF has also made changes to its Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) assignments. Employees temporarily assigned to NSF via the IPA will no longer serve in SES positions. This change, along with the shift from one executive for every 17 non-executives to one-to-30, signifies a significant restructuring of the NSF's leadership.

The Trump administration has also announced its intention to evict NSF from its headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, but has yet to unveil a plan for the agency's relocation. These changes, coupled with the proposed budget cuts, raise concerns about the future of the National Science Foundation and its ability to continue its vital research and development work.

Federal government agency significantly reduces career executive positions following a workforce reduction of about one-third.