US administration fires National Science Foundation board in public health demolition
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 3
US administration fires National Science Foundation board in public health demolition
14 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 3
The April purge followed cuts of 20,500 HHS jobs, $698m from NSF, $518m from NIH and $6.9bn from CDC programmes, while Russell Vought seeks a further $16bn HHS reduction for 2027.
The report says Robert F Kennedy Jr and allies pair anti-institutional, spiritual rhetoric with support for unproven remedies and vaccine scepticism as measles cases topped 2,000 in 2025 and 1,700 so far in 2026.
It argues Christian nationalist ideology and wellness-linked financial interests are reshaping health policy, weakening research, equity and environmental protections while favouring faith-based programmes and private alternatives to public healthcare.
As research funds are cut and measles resurges, who truly profits from America's new wellness-focused health policy?
When public health is framed as 'spiritual warfare,' what does this mean for the future of science-based medicine?
NSF Leadership Crisis: The Impact of the April 2026 National Science Board Mass Firing and Proposed 55% Budget Cuts
Overview
On April 24, 2026, the U.S. government dismissed all 24 members of the National Science Board, creating a complete leadership vacuum at the National Science Foundation, which had already lacked a Senate-confirmed Director since April 2025. This paralysis halted funding approvals for over 10,000 research projects, triggering widespread alarm in the scientific community. The White House justified the dismissal by citing a Supreme Court decision, but critics and Congressional Democrats rejected this rationale. Coupled with a proposed 55% NSF budget cut and the elimination of many federal advisory committees, these actions have led to a significant brain drain and loss of international trust, threatening the future of U.S. scientific leadership and innovation.