At an emotional meeting, foundation officials announced layoffs for about 10 percent of their workforce and warned of more firings to come.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has laid off 168 employees, primarily from its Office of Information and Resource Management (IRM), as part of a strategic realignment to enhance its focus on core mission activities. This decision, which was communicated through an email from the Chief Operating Officer Karen Marrongelle, has stirred significant discontent among the affected workers, with some expressing frustration over the lack of transparency and the abrupt nature of the layoffs. The move is part of a broader initiative to streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve service delivery by outsourcing certain functions. Despite the layoffs, the NSF has promised to support the affected employees with severance packages, job placement assistance, and priority consideration for other positions within the agency. However, the process has been criticized for its impact on morale and the potential loss of institutional knowledge.
Science & Technology
Thu, February 20, 2025
