Washington, DC, April 26, 2025: Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan, Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), has resigned from his post effective April 24, 2025, bringing an early close to his six-year term. Appointed by former President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate in 2020, Panchanathan announced his decision with a note that he had “done all [he] can” to advance the agency’s mission and now wished to “pass the baton to new leadership.”
His resignation comes at a turbulent time for the NSF and other federal science agencies. Under the Trump administration’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, the NSF faced a dramatic 55% budget cut and a mandate to slash its workforce by half. These austerity measures have resulted in mass layoffs, grant cancellations, and the discontinuation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs — actions that have drawn widespread criticism from the scientific community.
While Panchanathan did not directly cite the cuts as his reason for stepping down, the timing of his departure suggests mounting pressures within the agency. Additionally, sources close to Panchanathan have noted that he has been balancing heavy personal responsibilities, including caring for his ailing mother.
Born in Chennai, India, Panchanathan is an accomplished computer scientist and academic leader. He earned degrees from the University of Madras, the Indian Institute of Science, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, and a Ph.D. from the University of Ottawa. Before leading the NSF, he served at Arizona State University as executive vice president of knowledge enterprise development and chief research and innovation officer.
During his tenure, Panchanathan focused on broadening participation in STEM fields and expanding NSF’s impact. His contributions were recognized earlier this year when he received India’s Padma Shri award, one of the country’s highest civilian honors.
Following Panchanathan’s departure, Brian Stone, his chief of staff, has been named interim director of the NSF.
Cover photo: Courtesy of Arizona State University
