Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Nsb Oversight topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Witness warns National Science Board removals could limit NSF oversight
Summary
Julia Phillips told senators that removals of National Science Board members curtailed oversight and transparency over NSF operations and publications; witnesses and senators discussed potential chilling effects and the board's statutory roles.
Julia Phillips, a former member and committee chair of the National Science Board, said the board serves both as NSF's board of directors and as an adviser to the president and Congress on the state of science and engineering. She described the board's roles and said recent removals of board members will complicate oversight and reduce access to information. "It is stated that the National Science Board has two roles... to serve as the board of directors for the National Science Foundation," Phillips said.
Ranking Member Baldwin raised concerns that the administration removed board members shortly before a congressionally mandated report was released. Phillips said the recent Science and Engineering Indicators report was published after a favorable vote but warned that going forward the board has struggled to function without necessary information and consistent access to budget and operational data. Senators signaled they may pursue oversight questions for the record.
