Although few Americans have heard of the National Science Foundation (NSF), fewer still have heard of the National Science Board (NSB).

The NSF is “an independent federal agency that supports science and engineering in all 50 states and U.S. territories.” It was established in 1950 to “promote the progress of science, “advance the national health, prosperity and welfare, and secure the national defense.” It fulfills its mission “chiefly by making grants.”

The NSB is the NSF’s governing board.. Jointly, “the board and NSF director pursue the goals and functions of NSF, including the duty to ‘recommend and encourage the pursuit of national policies for the promotion of research and education in science and engineering.’” <...> The NSB consists of 25 members, appointed by the president to six-year terms.

This past April, President Trump fired all members of the NSB. He previously cancelled or suspended almost 2,000 NSF grants and cut staffing at the NSF.
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To liberals, all of this means that the Trump administration is waging a war on science. But, of course, there is no war on science. There is a phony war on science funding, but there is no war on science.

Any scientist is free to perform research on any subject that interests him. He is just not free to have the taxpayers pay for it. He can use his own funds, find a patron or donor, or work for a foundation, university, or private firm. But neither he himself, his patron or donor, or any foundation, university, private firm should receive taxpayer dollars for scientific research. It is neither constitutional nor the proper role of government to do so. And it is a myth that government spending on scientific research is a “public good” with positive “spillovers” and “spin-offs” that accrue to the private sector.
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The NSF and the NSB should not exist. Any and all scientific research should be done by private entities on the free market.