Select Committee Democrats Raise Concern After Trump Administration Dismisses Entire National Science Board, Warn Move Benefits China
WASHINGTON – Rep. Ro Khanna, Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, alongside Select Committee Member and Science, Space and Technology Committee Member Rep. Haley Stevens, have raised concerns about the National Science Foundation (NSF) following the Trump administration’s decision to dismiss all 22 members of the National Science Board (NSB), warning that the move weakens America’s scientific leadership and strengthens China’s competitive position.
In a letter sent to NSF leadership and the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, the lawmakers expressed "grave concern" over the mass firings, arguing that the decision undermines scientific expertise, weakens independent oversight, and sends a troubling signal to both U.S. allies and strategic competitors that the U.S. is ceding the mantle of global scientific leadership to China.
“These firings are part of a larger White House pattern of institutions and experts being ‘systematically either dissolved or eviscerated,’” wrote Khanna and Stevens.
The lawmakers also noted that the NSB serves as an independent advisory body to NSF and plays an instrumental role in shaping the nation's scientific priorities. They cited statements from board members and higher education leaders who have criticized the dismissals, including former NSB member Dr. Keivan Stassun, who described the administration's actions as part of a broader effort to weaken scientific institutions.
At the time of their termination, NSB members had just published their most recent findings on U.S.-China scientific competition; their 2026 State of U.S. Science and Engineering Report, warning that for the first time, China has overtaken the United States in scientific R&D expenditures. NSB also had finalized a two-page policy brief on these alarming findings. Since their termination, NSB has been unable to brief lawmakers on their report and unable to provide guidance on what policies would ensure the U.S, not China, maintains leadership over global science.
The lawmakers are seeking a detailed plan from NSF explaining how it intends to maintain its mission and global standing following the dismissals. They are also requesting information on the future of the terminated board members and seek to know how the administration plans to respond to findings that China has overtaken the United States in R&D spending.
Khanna and Stevens request the following information, covering the period from April 26th to present:
- Identify who ordered the summary dismissal of the Board and their rationale for doing so.
- A response from the National Science Foundation on the NSB’s findings related to the U.S. R&D funding gap with China.
- Releasing the two-page policy brief from NSB members on U.S.-China scientific competition.
“We demand a plan for how the NSF will maintain its essential functions and global standing,” the lawmakers concluded. “We demand a complete and timely response regarding the future of the NSB’s unjustly fired board. And we demand to see the White House respond to the report’s findings that China has surpassed the U.S. in R&D spending.”
The lawmakers request a response by no later than June 15th, 2026.
Read the letter here.
###