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NSF director to resign amid grant terminations, job cuts, and controversy

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Re: NSF director to resign amid grant terminations, job cuts, and controversy

#81

Post by MSM »

sathackr wrote: post #4

One thing I don't understand is people resigning on principles. If something bad is happening to an organization that I hold a significant amount of clout and power in, I'm not just going to leave and hand the reigns to someone on 'their side' -- I'm going to stay and fight and try to make whatever impact I can. So many people are just leaving...instead of fighting. Which seems like it's going to have the effect of j…

I think the likely reason is they have signed a non disparagement agreement and have no avenue to publicly criticize. Additionally, quietly criticizing just means quietly getting fired, then likely still being unable to publicly criticize.

The only way to say "hey, I don't think this is right and I don't agree with what's happening here" is to publicly resign and hope that alarm bells start going off in people's heads as to why many of these folks are resigning simultaneously.

Re: NSF director to resign amid grant terminations, job cuts, and controversy

#82

Post by etskinner »

rahimnathwani wrote: post #21
sathackr wrote: post #4

One thing I don't understand is people resigning on principles. If something bad is happening to an organization that I hold a significant amount of clout and power in, I'm not just going to leave and hand the reigns to someone on 'their side' -- I'm going to stay and fight and try to make whatever impact I can. So many people are just leaving...instead of fighting. Which seems like it's going to have the effect of j…

The options you have: A) disagree and commit B) disagree and wait to be fired C) appear to commit, but secretly subvert your (elected) boss's plans/intentions I use the word 'boss' here because the president has the right to hire and fire for this role: SEC. 5. 42 U.S.C. 1864 (a) The Director of the Foundation (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Director’’) shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and…

Secret other option: Disagree and convince your boss to change their mind

That, of course, probably doesn't apply in this situation since Trump rarely changes his mind. But it does apply in other situations.

Re: NSF director to resign amid grant terminations, job cuts, and controversy

#83

Post by DrillShopper »

esseph wrote: post #75
rchaud wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There's tons of "how-to" guides on how to maliciously comply with work demands without getting fired. These only apply to countries where the judicial system doesn't bend to whoever's in power.

This comment doesn't make sense if you're aware of the content of the guides under discussion. Subversion is the goal of them. To be successful requires time and not getting found out. It requires plausible deniability.

Cool, how does the NSF director subvert with plausible deniability?

Re: NSF director to resign amid grant terminations, job cuts, and controversy

#84

Post by 9283409232 »

> And NSF said pending proposals that appeared to violate any of Trump’s executive orders—in particular those banning efforts to increase diversity in the scientific workforce, foster environmental justice, and study the spread of misinformation on social media sites—would be returned for “mitigation.”

Basically don't study how Elon's websites are destroying the fabric of society or how Trump's policies will destroy the environment.

Re: NSF director to resign amid grant terminations, job cuts, and controversy

#85

Post by deeThrow94 »

etskinner wrote: post #82
rahimnathwani wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The options you have: A) disagree and commit B) disagree and wait to be fired C) appear to commit, but secretly subvert your (elected) boss's plans/intentions I use the word 'boss' here because the president has the right to hire and fire for this role: SEC. 5. 42 U.S.C. 1864 (a) The Director of the Foundation (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Director’’) shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and…

Secret other option: Disagree and convince your boss to change their mind That, of course, probably doesn't apply in this situation since Trump rarely changes his mind. But it does apply in other situations.

> since Trump rarely changes his mind

That's not true; he changes his mind all the time, particularly as media coverage changes. It's just not necessarily something you can persuade him to do without catering to his ego.

Re: NSF director to resign amid grant terminations, job cuts, and controversy

#86

Post by hodgesrm »

sathackr wrote: post #4

One thing I don't understand is people resigning on principles. If something bad is happening to an organization that I hold a significant amount of clout and power in, I'm not just going to leave and hand the reigns to someone on 'their side' -- I'm going to stay and fight and try to make whatever impact I can. So many people are just leaving...instead of fighting. Which seems like it's going to have the effect of j…

> I'm going to stay and fight and try to make whatever impact I can.

Have you actually done this? It's harder than it sounds.

Re: NSF director to resign amid grant terminations, job cuts, and controversy

#87

Post by jimbokun »

bananapub wrote: post #15

Pretty distressing at how there’s basically zero pushback from the American elites at the destruction of all strategic American advantages and only ineffective pushback from the public. There will be entire genres of books written about how America just said “eh” to being gutted by a bunch of rich psychopaths.

Two failed impeachment attempts, countless lawsuits, and now the Supreme Court has more or less inoculated Trump from any further prosecution attempts.

The checks and balances have all been exhausted. There are no bullets left in the gun.

Re: NSF director to resign amid grant terminations, job cuts, and controversy

#88

Post by inerte »

deeThrow94 wrote: post #85
etskinner wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Secret other option: Disagree and convince your boss to change their mind That, of course, probably doesn't apply in this situation since Trump rarely changes his mind. But it does apply in other situations.

> since Trump rarely changes his mind That's not true; he changes his mind all the time , particularly as media coverage changes. It's just not necessarily something you can persuade him to do without catering to his ego.

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/19/inside-trump-mindset-tariff...

"We saw it in business with Trump," one adviser said. "He would have these meetings and everyone would agree, and then we would just pray that when he left the office and got on the elevator that the doorman wouldn't share his opinion, because there would be a 50/50 chance [Trump] would suddenly side with the doorman."

Re: NSF director to resign amid grant terminations, job cuts, and controversy

#89

Post by rockemsockem »

9283409232 wrote: post #84

> And NSF said pending proposals that appeared to violate any of Trump’s executive orders—in particular those banning efforts to increase diversity in the scientific workforce, foster environmental justice, and study the spread of misinformation on social media sites—would be returned for “mitigation.” Basically don't study how Elon's websites are destroying the fabric of society or how Trump's policies will destroy…

The site formally known as Twitter is destroying the fabric of society, really? Do you hear yourself?
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