Nearly 1,800 employees of the National Science Foundation unexpectedly evacuated from agency headquarters
On Tuesday night, over 1,800 employees at the National Science Foundation (NSF) got hit with some devastating news—they'd be booted from their office space. The following day, officials at a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) press conference confirmed the bad news: HUD was taking over NSF's Alexandria, Virginia headquarters, effective "as soon as possible," Michael Peters, Commissioner of the Public Buildings Service for the General Services Administration (GSA), announced at the briefing.
An NSF staffer told E&E News they had "absolutely zero clue" the move was coming. The agency had only recently moved into this spanking-new building back in 2017.
On Wednesday, a crowd of NSF workers protested outside the building, chanting, "We won't go!" and "NSF!" One angry employee told Washington's News4, "This is bulls---." Inside the building, HUD officials sell the move as a step toward the Trump administration's declared goal of boosting federal efficiency. "The people of HUD are excited to have a new home to deliver excellent services," said HUD Secretary Scott Turner. Over 2,700 HUD employees are expected to relocate to the NSF building from their antiquated headquarters in the Robert C. Weaver Federal Building in D.C., built in the 60s. With a banner declaring "The New Golden Age of HUD," Peters added, "This is a win for everyone involved."
But not everyone's on board. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), representing many NSF workers, slammed the move, calling it a "shameless disregard for taxpayer dollars and NSF employees." The union also accused the administration of planning new luxuries for HUD officials, claiming that a private executive suite, dining room, and custom gym for Turner were part of the deal. "The hypocrisy is mind-numbing," the organization said.
"That's ridiculous and it's not true," Turner insisted at the press conference.
As if this news isn't enough, the NSF faces an uncertain future. Founded in 1950, the NSF has been instrumental in advancing American science, technology, and engineering. From developing the barcode to observing gravitational waves and imaging the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy, the NSF has been pivotal in these fields. However, in the last six months, under the Trump administration, over 1,600 NSF grants have been frozen or canceled, with plans to slash the agency's budget by more than half. HUD, on the other hand, faces a whopping 44% cut to its 2026 funding if the current administration's budget proposal passes.
As of now, it's unclear where or how the displaced NSF employees will be relocated. Some employees had only just returned to Virginia on short notice after a federal judge reversed the Trump administration's decision to can dozens of probationary employees. Virginia's Governor Glenn Youngkin expressed hope that the Trump administration will keep NSF in the state but at a new location.
For the moment, it seems the GSA is left figuring out where to move NSF workers. In a press release, the agency said, "GSA will continue to support and work with the National Science Foundation to ensure they can fulfill their mission." NSF declined comment.
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- US Representatives are concerned that Trump's NASA budget plan will make it harder to track dangerous asteroids.
- NASA has been backing out of major astronomy meetings, and scientists are feeling the effects.
- In the realm of finance, over 1,600 NSF grants have been frozen or canceled under the Trump administration, with plans to slash the agency's budget by more than half.
- HUD faces a whopping 44% cut to its 2026 funding if the current administration's budget proposal passes.
- In the political sphere, Virginia's Governor Glenn Youngkin expressed hope that the Trump administration will keep NSF in the state but at a new location.
