Information about this story is rapidly developing. Check back here for updates and resources.
Within hours of the President’s Budget Request (PBR) release, the National Science Foundation (NSF) quietly took steps to diminish, if not dismantle, the Social, Behavioral, and Economic (SBE) Sciences Directorate (SBE). Significant changes are being made with no transparent or meaningful process or justification, in direct contradiction to congressional guidance, and at a time when the agency has no Senate confirmed director.
Information about the dismantling first started to circulate on Friday evening in a Nature article reporting on an internal all-hands meeting where NSF leaders announced intentions to shut down the SBE by the end of the fiscal year. NSF rotators serving in SBE were encouraged to prepare to return to their universities and permanent employees were notified that they would be reassigned to other directorates. NSF leadership shared that NSF would maintain “grants that align with Administration priorities, such as in behavioral and cognitive science, and all impacted employees will be transferred to other parts of the agency.”
While the community is still awaiting any formal NSF communication about their actions, some have learned that NSF has canceled SBE grant panels, effective immediately, and that SBE will not be offering any new grant opportunities. A review of the website reveals few updates since mid-February of this year. It is unclear what will happen to continuing grants that are still owed money, especially if they are not relevant to Administration priorities.
FABBS has long been concerned about potential divestment in our disciplines and actively working to establish congressional and community support. Last November, FABBS led a community effort, getting 59 scientific societies and institutions to sign on to a letter to House and Senate appropriators, urging them to support and protect SBE. (See list of SBE relevant statutes and report language)
FABBS is actively working to learn more and keep our members up to date with new information released about SBE. Staff has been in close contact with the National Science Board (NSB), in addition to NSF and Hill colleagues, communicating the devastating implications of closing the directorate’s doors. FABBS is also working to alert the broad scientific community and is grateful for strong support for our disciplines.
For those interested, FABBS is holding an Office Hour on Friday, April 10 at 1:30pm ET to discuss the announcement, share information, and develop a plan to protect investment in SBE and NSF at large. Register for the discussion here.
Check back here for advocacy materials:
- Talking points
- SBE funded examples
