Official NSF press releases or announcements

NSF Grants for DEI Projects Surge to 10%, Totaling $2 Billion Under Biden Administration

Oct 10, 2024, 03:58 PM

A recent report reveals that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has significantly increased its allocation of grants to projects focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Prior to President Biden taking office in 2020, less than 1% of NSF grants were related to DEI. This figure has now surged to over 10%, with some reports indicating it may be as high as 27%. The shift has sparked criticism, with detractors arguing that these grants prioritize ideological aspects over scientific merit. The report highlights that $2 billion in grants have been directed towards projects centered on gender, race, and social justice, rather than scientific quality. Critics argue that valuable scientific work is being overlooked in favor of balancing DEI metrics. The proportion of NSF grants prioritizing non-scientific attributes has increased tenfold.