Laura Lautz
@llautz.bsky.social
Hydrogeologist and Program Director for Water, Landscape, and Critical Zone Processes (WaLCZ) at the National Science Foundation. Views are my own, not NSF’s.
Making my voice heard.
September 9, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Making my voice heard.
Reposted by Laura Lautz
“More than 140 employees of the National Science Foundation have signed a letter denouncing what they described as efforts to undermine one of the country’s main science funding agencies. … Out of fear of retaliation, all but one of the employees’ signatures are redacted.”
Amid Fear of Retaliation, N.S.F. Workers Sign Letter of Dissent
www.nytimes.com
July 22, 2025 at 11:14 PM
“More than 140 employees of the National Science Foundation have signed a letter denouncing what they described as efforts to undermine one of the country’s main science funding agencies. … Out of fear of retaliation, all but one of the employees’ signatures are redacted.”
Reposted by Laura Lautz
Reposted by Laura Lautz
US Earth Science people: Our June webinar felt so good, we’re making it a series. Join us next Tuesday 7/15 (and again in Aug & Sept) to hear from NSF staff and to get (most of?) your questions answered. www.nsf.gov/events/nsf-d...
NSF Division of Earth Sciences Informational Webinar
www.nsf.gov
July 10, 2025 at 1:29 PM
US Earth Science people: Our June webinar felt so good, we’re making it a series. Join us next Tuesday 7/15 (and again in Aug & Sept) to hear from NSF staff and to get (most of?) your questions answered. www.nsf.gov/events/nsf-d...
Reposted by Laura Lautz
They are kicking the National Science Foundation out of their 8-year-old HQ building, with no alternative plan for housing staff, in order to make a gym for Secretary of Housing & Urban Development Scott Turner and his family.
June 25, 2025 at 1:16 AM
They are kicking the National Science Foundation out of their 8-year-old HQ building, with no alternative plan for housing staff, in order to make a gym for Secretary of Housing & Urban Development Scott Turner and his family.
Reposted by Laura Lautz
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."
NSF staffer: "There is no planning for NSF, no identified future location, appropriation for a new building or a move."
June 24, 2025 at 10:20 PM
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."
NSF staffer: "There is no planning for NSF, no identified future location, appropriation for a new building or a move."
Reposted by Laura Lautz
National Science Foundation Surprise: Employees Being Relocated to
Accommodate Secretary of HUD’s Palatial New Office
www.afge.org/contentasset...
Accommodate Secretary of HUD’s Palatial New Office
www.afge.org/contentasset...
www.afge.org
June 25, 2025 at 2:08 AM
National Science Foundation Surprise: Employees Being Relocated to
Accommodate Secretary of HUD’s Palatial New Office
www.afge.org/contentasset...
Accommodate Secretary of HUD’s Palatial New Office
www.afge.org/contentasset...
Reposted by Laura Lautz
US Earth Scientists: We know you have questions, come get them answered directly from NSF/EAR POs! Tuesday, June 17, 2p Eastern. Register here: www.nsf.gov/events/nsf-d...
NSF Division of Earth Sciences Informational Webinar
www.nsf.gov
June 9, 2025 at 7:24 PM
US Earth Scientists: We know you have questions, come get them answered directly from NSF/EAR POs! Tuesday, June 17, 2p Eastern. Register here: www.nsf.gov/events/nsf-d...
Reposted by Laura Lautz
This proposed budget is a policy statement, not an appropriation.
There are still a lot of steps and potential changes ahead before it becomes one. This is not a time to sit quietly, team. Let's go.
There are still a lot of steps and potential changes ahead before it becomes one. This is not a time to sit quietly, team. Let's go.
May 31, 2025 at 1:38 PM
This proposed budget is a policy statement, not an appropriation.
There are still a lot of steps and potential changes ahead before it becomes one. This is not a time to sit quietly, team. Let's go.
There are still a lot of steps and potential changes ahead before it becomes one. This is not a time to sit quietly, team. Let's go.
Reposted by Laura Lautz
How bad will it be? Catastrophic.
Proposed cuts to #NSF, #NIH, and #NASA will set the US R&D landscape back 25 yrs+, cause economic and job loss now, and undermine innovations to come.
But, this is the WH's *proposed* budget.
Speak up now before it is too late.
(inflation adjusted $-s below)
Proposed cuts to #NSF, #NIH, and #NASA will set the US R&D landscape back 25 yrs+, cause economic and job loss now, and undermine innovations to come.
But, this is the WH's *proposed* budget.
Speak up now before it is too late.
(inflation adjusted $-s below)
May 31, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Reposted by Laura Lautz
The NSF cuts are nothing short of a scorched-earth attack on US science, orchestrated w/political cynicism & total disregard for US scientific leadership. A 7% success rate doesn’t incentivize innovation; it tells researchers to take their talent elsewhere.
nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/00-NSF...
nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/00-NSF...
May 30, 2025 at 11:39 PM
The NSF cuts are nothing short of a scorched-earth attack on US science, orchestrated w/political cynicism & total disregard for US scientific leadership. A 7% success rate doesn’t incentivize innovation; it tells researchers to take their talent elsewhere.
nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/00-NSF...
nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/00-NSF...
Reposted by Laura Lautz
The National Science Foundation budget proposal would be a devastating blow to American science. 240,000 fewer people would be involved in federally-funded science in fiscal year 2026, according to estimates in the document.
nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/00-NSF...
nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/00-NSF...
May 30, 2025 at 10:59 PM
The National Science Foundation budget proposal would be a devastating blow to American science. 240,000 fewer people would be involved in federally-funded science in fiscal year 2026, according to estimates in the document.
nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/00-NSF...
nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/00-NSF...
Reposted by Laura Lautz
Trump administration cuts to NSF will result in more than 200,000 FEWER people per year involved in basic science, training, and education - what should have been the next generation of US scientists. This isn't even eating your seed corn, it is setting your seed corn on fire and salting the earth.
May 30, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Trump administration cuts to NSF will result in more than 200,000 FEWER people per year involved in basic science, training, and education - what should have been the next generation of US scientists. This isn't even eating your seed corn, it is setting your seed corn on fire and salting the earth.
An amazing group of dedicated federal workers celebrating 75 years of NSF supporting science. What a joy to be a part of! www.science.org/content/arti...
Is a photo subversive? NSF staff overcome obstacles to 75th anniversary portrait
Management tried to quash outpouring of support for beleaguered agency
www.science.org
May 22, 2025 at 9:12 PM
An amazing group of dedicated federal workers celebrating 75 years of NSF supporting science. What a joy to be a part of! www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Laura Lautz
I am thinking a lot today about how heavy things feel in my world of faculty doing scientific research. There's the immediate chaos and panic about our ability to pay people and continue our research. But there's also a deeper grief at watching everything get bulldozed for no reason
May 15, 2025 at 2:35 AM
I am thinking a lot today about how heavy things feel in my world of faculty doing scientific research. There's the immediate chaos and panic about our ability to pay people and continue our research. But there's also a deeper grief at watching everything get bulldozed for no reason
Reposted by Laura Lautz
NSF’s entire Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM (EDU/EES), which “aims to provide opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds to actively participate and excel in STEM disciplines” and some of it congressionally mandated, was just notified they will be RIFed. www.nsf.gov/edu/ees/about
About EES
The NSF Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM (EES) aims to provide opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds, especially those historically underrepresented in science and engineering.
www.nsf.gov
May 9, 2025 at 3:14 PM
NSF’s entire Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM (EDU/EES), which “aims to provide opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds to actively participate and excel in STEM disciplines” and some of it congressionally mandated, was just notified they will be RIFed. www.nsf.gov/edu/ees/about
Reposted by Laura Lautz
Exclusive: National Science Foundation staff were told today that the agency’s 37 divisions—across all eight directorates—are being abolished and the number of programs within those divisions will be drastically reduced.
Exclusive: NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions
Changes seen as a response to presidential directives on what research to fund
scim.ag
May 8, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Exclusive: National Science Foundation staff were told today that the agency’s 37 divisions—across all eight directorates—are being abolished and the number of programs within those divisions will be drastically reduced.
Reposted by Laura Lautz
I am so heartened to this seriously AWESOME #SaveNSF website go up today!!!!
Has a take action toolkit with:
1. Press outreach templates
2. Social media toolkit
3. Elected official outreach
4. Talking points
Check it out and share widely!!!! Likely more to come.
www.savensf.com
Has a take action toolkit with:
1. Press outreach templates
2. Social media toolkit
3. Elected official outreach
4. Talking points
Check it out and share widely!!!! Likely more to come.
www.savensf.com
May 2, 2025 at 10:08 PM
I am so heartened to this seriously AWESOME #SaveNSF website go up today!!!!
Has a take action toolkit with:
1. Press outreach templates
2. Social media toolkit
3. Elected official outreach
4. Talking points
Check it out and share widely!!!! Likely more to come.
www.savensf.com
Has a take action toolkit with:
1. Press outreach templates
2. Social media toolkit
3. Elected official outreach
4. Talking points
Check it out and share widely!!!! Likely more to come.
www.savensf.com
Reposted by Laura Lautz
SaveNSF is a coalition of concerned scientists and allies who are working to save funding for scientific grants through the NSF.
The mission is to support and advocate for the continuation of vital research and innovation.
Join: www.savensf.com
The mission is to support and advocate for the continuation of vital research and innovation.
Join: www.savensf.com
Home | Savensf
www.savensf.com
May 3, 2025 at 1:03 AM
SaveNSF is a coalition of concerned scientists and allies who are working to save funding for scientific grants through the NSF.
The mission is to support and advocate for the continuation of vital research and innovation.
Join: www.savensf.com
The mission is to support and advocate for the continuation of vital research and innovation.
Join: www.savensf.com
Reposted by Laura Lautz
NEW: Starting May 5, NSF will implement an across-the-board 15% indirect cost rate (mirroring policies at DOE, NIH)
Also, NSF staff expect 341 additional terminations today, bringing the total number of terminations to ~1,380.
Also, NSF staff expect 341 additional terminations today, bringing the total number of terminations to ~1,380.
May 2, 2025 at 2:20 PM
NEW: Starting May 5, NSF will implement an across-the-board 15% indirect cost rate (mirroring policies at DOE, NIH)
Also, NSF staff expect 341 additional terminations today, bringing the total number of terminations to ~1,380.
Also, NSF staff expect 341 additional terminations today, bringing the total number of terminations to ~1,380.
Reposted by Laura Lautz
Staff members at the US National Science Foundation (NSF) were told on 30 April to “stop awarding all funding actions until further notice,” according to an email seen by Nature.
https://go.nature.com/44Ugf9V
https://go.nature.com/44Ugf9V
Exclusive: NSF stops awarding new grants and funding existing ones
US science funder also plans to screen grant applications for compliance with ‘agency priorities’.
go.nature.com
May 1, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Staff members at the US National Science Foundation (NSF) were told on 30 April to “stop awarding all funding actions until further notice,” according to an email seen by Nature.
https://go.nature.com/44Ugf9V
https://go.nature.com/44Ugf9V
Reposted by Laura Lautz
Science friends, I’ll be honest: We have no idea yet what any of this will mean. But I can tell you that I work alongside some of the best humans around and that we are fighters. www.science.org/content/arti...
April 25, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Science friends, I’ll be honest: We have no idea yet what any of this will mean. But I can tell you that I work alongside some of the best humans around and that we are fighters. www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Laura Lautz
NSF PD Raleigh Martin out with another statement on the NSF grant freezes. 🧪 ⚒️ #climatesky
April 22, 2025 at 2:52 AM
NSF PD Raleigh Martin out with another statement on the NSF grant freezes. 🧪 ⚒️ #climatesky
Reposted by Laura Lautz
What a roller coaster. I am grateful for and in awe of our wide NSF community. Reinstatement of fired staff is the right outcome of the first fight.
www.axios.com/2025/03/03/n...
www.axios.com/2025/03/03/n...
National Science Foundation is reinstating fired probationary employees
The NSF said probationary employees help it remain a "global leader in scientific discovery and innovation."
www.axios.com
March 4, 2025 at 12:24 AM
What a roller coaster. I am grateful for and in awe of our wide NSF community. Reinstatement of fired staff is the right outcome of the first fight.
www.axios.com/2025/03/03/n...
www.axios.com/2025/03/03/n...
Reposted by Laura Lautz
NSF plans to reinstate all probationary employees who were fired on 18 Feb!
NSF’s decision. 👏🏻👏🏻❤️
NSF’s decision. 👏🏻👏🏻❤️
March 3, 2025 at 2:33 PM
NSF plans to reinstate all probationary employees who were fired on 18 Feb!
NSF’s decision. 👏🏻👏🏻❤️
NSF’s decision. 👏🏻👏🏻❤️