1. United States
2. Neb.
3. Letter

I am writing to you as a concerned constituent. On April 3, the Trump Administration released its budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2027. In it, the Administration states its intent to dismantle the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) Directorate in FY 2027. This proposal is alarming as the SBE Directorate is responsible for nearly two-thirds of funding for academic basic research in the social and behavioral sciences in the U.S. Even more concerning are reports that NSF leadership may be taking steps now—in calendar year 2026—to begin dismantling the Directorate. If true, this raises several red flags and likely violates current statute, not to mention sidesteps Congress’ oversight and funding authority. This news has come as a surprise to not just the research community, but NSF staff, the National Science Board (NSF’s governing body) and other government officials. I hope you will agree that the Administration’s approach to reorganizing NSF—in secret with no external input—is not just misguided but sets a dangerous precedent. I am asking for your help with stopping the Trump Administration’s abrupt plans to dismantle NSF’s Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Directorate. I urge that you please exercise your oversight authority by contacting NSF leadership and OMB to express concern about their plans to abruptly eliminate NSF's Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Directorate with no notice, stated rationale, or Congressional or stakeholder engagement. As you know, the President has nominated Jim O’Neill to be the next NSF Director. In advance of a confirmation hearing, I urge you to meet one-on-one with Mr. O’Neill to discuss his goals for the agency. I hope you will share your concerns about the threat to SBE discussed above and ask if he will support SBE in his role as NSF Director. Thank you.