STEM education research faces significant challenges following recent budget cuts.
Among the over 1,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grants terminated by the Department of Government Efficiency, about 40% were part of its education division. These grants, focused on enhancing STEM education, represented over half of the $616 million in canceled projects. The STEM education division, which supports research on improving math and science teaching, had a budget of approximately $1.2 billion out of NSF’s $9 billion annual budget.
Neither NSF nor the Trump administration has officially listed the canceled grants. Dan Garisto, reporting for Nature, acquired a list from NSF employees. This list was later posted on Grant Watch, a project tracking grant terminations. Noam Ross from Grant Watch noted that the STEM education directorate was significantly affected. He analyzed the titles and abstracts of terminated projects, finding that “Black” and “climate” were frequently used terms.
Earlier, the Department of Education also faced substantial cuts, with nearly 90 research projects canceled, including the closure of Regional Education Laboratories and a reduction in staff. Some of the NSF projects were listed in a database compiled by Sen. Ted Cruz, criticizing them as promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
Confusion arose among researchers as some discovered terminations during the American Educational Research Association’s meeting. Many found out via text messages, casting a somber mood over the event. The Trump administration plans further budget cuts to the NSF, increasing uncertainty for researchers. For more updates, sign up for the Proof Points newsletter.
—
Read More Kitchen Table News
