AFGE Local 3403

Dear Representative Lofgren: We, the undersigned members of American Federation of Government Employees Local 3403 (AFGE 3403), who work at the National Science Foundation (NSF), write to you with deep concern over a series of politically motivated and legally questionable actions by the Administration that threaten the integrity of the NSF and undermine the civil service protections guaranteed under federal law. As civil servants, NSF employees are bound by their oath to uphold the Constitution. That oath now compels us to call attention to actions that jeopardize NSF's mission, its independence, and the foundational laws that protect the federal workforce from politicization and abuse. The sweeping and sudden termination of hundreds of NSF employees this year, including senior staff and those managing Congressionally mandated programs, was not only damaging to the agency's functioning but appears to violate the letter and spirit of title 5, the body of law establishing the professional, apolitical civil service, and is we would argue an unlawful impoundment of funds appropriated by Congress to advance American scientific research. The following categories of harm collectively amount to the systemic dismantling of a world-renowned scientific agency: 1. A Proposed Budget Cut That Would Cripple American Science The Administration's FY2026 request proposes a 56% cut to NSF's budget, more than 70% in biological sciences, engineering, and STEM education. If enacted, it would undermine U.S. leadership in science, eliminate funding for over 250,000 researchers and students, and break bipartisan commitments made under the CHIPS and Science Act.

2. Termination of Active Research Awards Without Transparency or Lawful Justification Between April and May 2025, over 1,600 active NSF grants were canceled using undisclosed criteria devised by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This action negates billions of dollars of past investments, violates Congressional intent in legislation such as the America COMPETES Act, and disregards NSF’s peer review process. 3. Political Review of Scientific Grants A covert and ideologically driven secondary review process by unqualified political appointees is now interfering with the scientific merit-based review system. This contradicts the founding vision of NSF as an apolitical agency that values intellectual independence and scientific rigor. 4. Withholding of Appropriated Funds As of July 2, 2025, some $2.2 billion of NSF’s $9 billion FY2025 appropriation remained illegally withheld by the Office of Management and Budget, despite being authorized by Public Law 119-4. This not only impairs the agency’s operations but violates public law requiring transparency in disbursements (P.L. 117-328). 5. Unlawful Terminations and Threatened Mass Reductions in Force In February, over 10% of NSF’s workforce was terminated. Many of these dismissals lacked due process or legal justification. A federal court ordered reinstatement of some employees, but many experts remain unemployed. Staff in the Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM were recently notified of their terminations despite their legally mandated role. 6. Coerced Resignations and Loss of Expertise Fear of retaliation, lack of job stability, and abrupt RTO orders have pushed hundreds of seasoned staff into early retirement or resignation. Rotating scholars (IPA employees) are being slashed from 330 to 70 and now face 90-day contracts and logistical chaos, severing vital ties to the broader research community. 7. Unannounced and Unplanned Eviction from Headquarters On June 25, 2025, NSF employees were informed that…

Petition for Action As provided under the Lloyd-La Follette Act (5 U.S.C. 7211), the signatories respectfully petition the Committee to: 1. Ensure that NSF employees are shielded from politically motivated firings and protected under merit-based personnel systems. 2. End illegal impoundments of monies appropriated to NSF. 3. Defend the agency from further interference in its peer review process. 4. Demand transparency from OMB, DOGE, and NSF leadership regarding internal employment policies and future agency relocations. 5. Reaffirm NSF’s scientific independence and support for world-class research that advances national prosperity and security. NSF employees are committed to serving the American people through research, education, and innovation. But they cannot do so under fear, censorship, and institutional sabotage. Without immediate oversight and corrective action from Congress, one of our nation’s greatest engines for scientific and technological advancement faces irreversible long-term damage. Put simply, America will forfeit its scientific leadership position to China and other rival nations.

National Science Foundation staff have sent a letter pleading with House Science ranking member @lofgren.house.gov to save the NSF. They are sufficiently scared of illegal retribution that they have done so anonymously democrats-science.house.gov/imo/media/do...

Science Group Releases Toolkit to Preserve the Function of Disbanded Federal Science Advisory Committees The Union of Concerned Scientists has released a toolkit to help scientists convene independent science advisory committees to continue the work of critical federal committees disbanded by the Trump a...

www.ucs.org/about/news/s...

We continue to stand with our #NSF #AFGE3403 colleagues. At #NEH, we understand the fear of retaliation all too well, as over two-thirds of us were terminated - but we also know that the #humanities and the #sciences are stronger and better when we stand together. #SaveNSF @savensf.bsky.social

Join our effort to #SaveNSF. Please lend your name and voice by signing at www.savensf.com/become-a-par...

@savensf.bsky.social

NSF staff say over 1,600 research grants, including climate, DEI, and public health projects, were canceled under Trump. Peer review has been replaced by partisan screening, with decisions now made by DOGE.

If you would like to stand with us to #SaveNSF, either as an organization/institution or an individual, please fill out the form to the right. We would love to list you as an official partner of www.savensf.com/become-a-par...

AFGE Local 3403 President Jesus Soriano joined Rep. Zoe Lofgren and AFGE National President Everett Kelley to highlight the damage being done to NSF by the Trump Administration and discuss a letter sent to Congresswomen Lofgren signed by 150 NSF employees
#SaveNSF #SaveScience #FundNSF

Trump Seeks to Cut Basic Scientific Research by Roughly One-Third, Report Shows

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/s...

#SaveNSF

Thx for shouting out the need @tokuda.house.gov

We're fighting everyday to save agencies like #NOAA - and #FEMA #EPA #NIH #CDC & #NSF too - the Trump administration aims to gut & dismantle.

We could your help!

Resist here - act.standupforscience.net/forms/epa-ad...

#SaveEPA139
#StandUpForScience

It’s our mission to shed light on the National Science Foundation’s impact on American innovation and leadership. We are fighting to protect funding for scientific research that could change the world. Share your experience with the NSF and share this post. #saveNSF

www.savensf.com

This year the National Science Foundation is celebrating 75 years! In 1950, President Harry S. Truman signed the creation of the National Science Foundation into law. To continue NSF's mission, we must act now to Save NSF. Visit our toolkit to get involved. www.savensf.com/take-action

Thanks! @walkerbragman.bsky.social
Without science there is no progress; without workers there is no government; without government there is no democracy.

Please stay tuned for more info on May 14. The Declaration of Alexandria will open for public signature then. If you wish to stay in the loop, please follow us at @savensf.bsky.social or join our mailing list here: www.savensf.com/join-our-list

BREAKING: Scientists are staging a “science fair” in the lobby of a Congressional building to tell elected officials about the critical knowledge the US will lose because their research grants have been canceled.

Report: National Science Foundation headquarters to be taken over by HUD, displacing 1,800+ employees | ALXnow The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will reportedly take over the National Science Foundation (NSF) headquarters building (2415 Eisenhower Ave.), displacing more than 1,833 NSF emplo...

www.alxnow.com/2025/06/24/r...

www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-a... Trump administration's National Science Foundation research funding cuts blocked by judge - CBS News

Correction: This suit applies to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) terminations.

(I am too used to typing NIH)

Live on AFGE L3403 Press Releases Webpage
AFGE Local 3403 Statement on NSF Surprise: Employees Being Relocated to Accommodate Secretary of HUD’s Palatial New Office
Link: www.afge.org/contentasset...

US judge blocks slashing of universities' federal funding from National Science Foundation A federal judge on Friday blocked the National Science Foundation from sharply cutting research funding provided to universities in the latest legal setback to efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to slash government support of research at major academic institutions.

US judge blocks slashing of universities' federal funding from National Science Foundation reut.rs/3FPT1b4

There seems to be some amount of confusion about the sourcing here, so for clarity:

I am a journalist; I was provided this information by multiple NSF staff. I am reporting it because it is credible and important. Separately, I have contacted NSF/GSA/HUD. I will provide updates when I have them.

Some of his requests, per NSF staff:

- Dedicated suite for him in the 19th floor
- constructing an Executive Dining Room
- reserved parking space for his 5 cars
- exclusive use of 1 elevator for the Secretary
- hosting the Secretary’s executive assistants in the 18th floor.

Oddly, staff say that neither NSF management nor OSTP have been involved, and the decision was instead driven by the HUD Secretary, Scott Turner, who will be imminently taking over the 18th & 19th floors of the (soon-to-be-former?) NSF building.

NEW: NSF will be kicked out of their building. Announcement will be made tomorrow by HUD Sec. and Governor of VA. HUD will take over the NSF building over the next two years.

NSF staffer: "There is no planning for NSF, no identified future location, appropriation for a new building or a move."

#SaveNSF

What.

Members of the Fulbright scholarship board resign, accusing Trump of meddling Nearly all the members of a board overseeing the prestigious Fulbright scholarships on Wednesday resigned in protest of what they call the Trump administration’s meddling with the selection of award recipients, according to a statement they issued.

11 of 12 Fulbright board members resign in protest over Trump-era meddling. Hundreds of awardees canceled; 1,200 foreign scholars face extra review.

A pillar of U.S. academic diplomacy is under threat.

zurl.co/o2mgg
#StandUpForScience
#Fulbright

I signed the #BethesdaDeclaration for my kids. I want a better future for them, and for all of the children in our country. Please, join me! act.standupforscience.net/forms/add-na...

BREAKING: A federal judge reversed National Institutes of Health's terminations of hundreds of critical research grants that were canceled because of their alleged connection to disfavored topics, including diversity, equity, inclusion, and gender identity.

This is a major win for public health.

Yassss! Go Team 💙