Sethuraman Panchanathan, director of the US National Science Foundation (NSF), has abruptly resigned more than a year before his term’s end, citing a desire to “pass the baton” amid a contentious government-wide austerity drive, according to Politico.
Panchanathan, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2020, announced his departure in a staff memo seen by Politico, stating he had “done all [he] can” to advance the agency’s mission.
I believe that I have done all I can to advance the mission of the agency and feel that it is time for me to pass the baton to new leadership.
His exit follows NSF cuts to grants, travel, and personnel under cost-cutting policies, compounded by personal challenges including caring for his ailing mother. Brian Stone, the director’s chief of staff, will serve as interim leader.
The NSF, which allocates billions annually to scientific research, faced mounting strain under budget limitations. Panchanathan’s tenure saw the implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act and efforts to curb workplace harassment, but Democrats lament the agency’s erosion.
“The damage will take decades to undo,” said House Science Committee ranking member Zoe Lofgren, blaming Trump’s “anti-science crusade” for undermining progress.
Panchanathan’s resignation underscores tensions between scientific ambition and fiscal retrenchment. In his memo, he stressed the need for a “thoughtful approach to efficiencies” as global competition intensifies. Critics argue the cuts jeopardise US innovation leadership, particularly in critical fields like AI and climate science.
