The National Science Foundation (NSF) has fired 168 workers, including permanent employees and at-will workers, in a move that is part of the Trump administration's broader effort to reduce the federal workforce. The terminated workers, who were mostly program managers and experts, were informed of their dismissal via a Zoom call on Tuesday morning. They were given until 5 pm EST to clear out their desks, although accommodations were made for those who needed more time. The decision to terminate the workers was made by the NSF, with management citing a need to reduce the workforce as part of the administration's agenda. However, some workers have expressed concern that the move will impact the foundation's ability to evaluate and fund research proposals, with one fired program manager stating that it will be 'hard to imagine' the process being successfully automated. The NSF has paused grants in the past due to funding freezes, but had recently resumed issuing grants following a court order. The termination of the workers has raised concerns about the impact on the scientific community and the foundation's ability to support research and innovation.