Trump Removes Entire National Science Board Amid Growing Concerns Over Scientific Research Control

Trump Administration Dismisses Entire National Science Board

The Trump administration has abruptly removed all 25 members of the National Science Board, the independent body that oversees the National Science Foundation (NSF). In a terse email sent Friday afternoon, board members were informed their positions were "terminated, effective immediately."

"I am deeply disappointed, though I cannot say I am entirely surprised. I have watched the systematic dismantling of the scientific advisory infrastructure of this government with growing alarm, and the National Science Board is simply the latest casualty."

The decision comes amid a broader pattern of actions targeting scientific research and regulatory oversight. Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) repealed the legal foundation for federal climate regulations, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) blocked the publication of a study on COVID-19 vaccine safety.

Political Maneuvering Over Tennessee Valley Authority Pay Caps

In a separate development, a top Republican in Congress confirmed that President Trump’s attempt to cap executive pay at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) applies only to the CEO. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) told The Knoxville News Sentinel that the $500,000 pay cap would only affect the TVA’s chief executive, not other executives. The White House had previously sought to remove TVA CEO Don Moul last year but ultimately backed down.

China Strengthens Climate Commitments with New Policy Framework

Beijing has unveiled plans for stricter controls on fossil fuel consumption and enhanced oversight of high-emission industries, signaling a renewed commitment to climate action. The policy document, a 2,800-word "guiding opinion", is the first high-level directive to explicitly link decarbonization efforts with energy security and industrial development.

"This is the first high-level document to explicitly link decarbonisation efforts with energy security and industrial development."

According to Qi Qin, a China analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, China is no longer treating clean energy technologies as a niche climate experiment but as a core component of its industrial strategy.

Global Weather and Disaster Updates

• United States: Nearly two dozen states, from Texas to Minnesota, are bracing for severe weather, including thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail, and winds up to 70 mph.
• Japan: Over 1,400 firefighters have been deployed to combat a wildfire in Iwate prefecture, forcing at least 3,000 people to evacuate.
• Ukraine: While Chernobyl currently enjoys mild, sunny weather (50°F), the region experienced extreme conditions 40 years ago when radiation from the reactor disaster spread due to adverse weather.