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Trump Admin Plans to Cut Team Responsible for Critical Atomic Measurement Data

The article from WIRED discusses the impact of budget cuts at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where the agency has had to resort to layoffs and furloughs, affecting even its most prestigious projects like the development of an atomic clock. Notably, NIST has been forced to let go of its mascot, Doge, a beloved Shiba Inu, due to these financial constraints. The layoffs have touched various departments, including those working on atomic spectroscopy, which is crucial for technologies like GPS and quantum computing. The article highlights the broader implications of these cuts, suggesting that they could hinder U.S. competitiveness in science and technology, especially as other countries continue to invest heavily in research. The situation at NIST serves as a microcosm of the challenges facing federal science funding in the U.S., with potential long-term effects on innovation and national security.

Read the Full Wired Article at:
[ https://www.wired.com/story/nist-doge-layoffs-atomic-spectroscopy/ ]