A Big Fight Over Who Will Lead America's Science Foundation

Scientists across America are upset about President Trump's choice to lead the National Science Foundation. They want Congress to hold a public hearing before Jim O'Neill gets the job. The National Science Foundation gives money to universities for important research. O'Neill comes from the business world, not from science research like past leaders.

O'Neill worked at investment companies that help fund new technology. He also worked in government jobs under President George W. Bush. But he doesn't have an advanced science degree like other NSF leaders have had. This makes many scientists worried about his ability to lead the foundation.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science wrote a letter to Congress. They said O'Neill's unusual background needs greater scrutiny by lawmakers. The group wants to know more about his plans for American science. They are also concerned about the Trump administration cutting funding for university research grants.

O'Neill's supporters don't want him to face a public hearing in the Senate. They think it would become too political and unfair. The last time an NSF director had such a hearing was in 1991. Instead, O'Neill has been meeting privately with top scientists at universities in California.

During these private meetings, O'Neill listened to scientists' concerns about the NSF. He talked about using a portfolio management approach to run the foundation. This means he would think about research funding like managing investments. Scientists asked him about keeping important AI research programs running.

Meanwhile, Illinois just passed a tough new law about artificial intelligence safety. The law requires big companies to create safety plans for their AI systems. Companies must also publish reports about how their AI works. They need to report any dangerous incidents to state officials.