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Departments & agencies

National Science Foundation

NSF Independent agenciesAt-will removal
At a glance
Type
Independent agencies
Removal of leadership
Removable at will
Appointed by
Appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senate
Structure
Single Director
Term
6-year term · staggered
Funding
Annual appropriations
Independence
Direct presidential control
Statute gives the NSF Director a 6-year term but allows removal at will (42 U.S.C. 1864(a): "unless sooner removed by the President"). In April 2026 the White House removed all 24 presidentially appointed National Science Board members; termination notices gave no stated reason, but the administration later justified the action by invoking U.S. v. Arthrex (2021), arguing the non-Senate-confirmed Board may not exercise its statutory authority. Legal experts have contested that rationale.
What it does

NSF is an independent federal agency that funds basic research and education in all non-medical fields of science and engineering, mainly through competitive grants to universities and research institutions. It is led by a Senate-confirmed Director (6-year term) and overseen by the National Science Board, whose 24 presidentially appointed members (plus the Director, ex officio) set policy. NSF does not run its own labs but shapes much of U.S. academic science by deciding which proposals get funded.

ScienceEducation
How it fits
U.S. ConstitutionNational Science Foundation Act of 1950 (1950)NSFRules & actions

Created by Congress under the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (Pub. L. 81-507, 64 Stat. 149; 42 U.S.C. ch. 16 (Sec. 1861 et seq.)), it acts within the authority that statute grants. Its actions are subject to judicial review and to congressional oversight and funding.

Recent actions

Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment RequestOctober 5, 2026
National Science Foundation
Proposal Review Committee Name ChangesOctober 5, 2026
National Science Foundation
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment RequestOctober 2, 2026
National Science Foundation
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; National Science Foundation Request for ProposalsSeptember 24, 2026
National Science Foundation
Advisory Committee for Integrative Activities; Committee ReestablishmentSeptember 16, 2026
National Science Foundation
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment RequestSeptember 9, 2026
National Science Foundation
Notice of Intent To Reinstate Information CollectionAugust 28, 2026
National Science Foundation
Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comment Regarding Common Disclosure Forms for the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) SupportAugust 26, 2026
National Science Foundation
View all actions on the Federal Register