FOIA Records: DOGE Affiliate Said the White House Sent a List of NSF Grants to Cut
Newly released records show a DOGE affiliate at the National Science Foundation writing that the White House had sent him a list of NSF grants to terminate, months before a top White House science official told Congress the White House is not involved in NSF funding decisions. The records, obtained through FOIA by Democracy Forward and reported by FedScoop on October 26, 2026, offer a detailed look at how NSF grant terminations were decided.
What the FOIA Records Show
According to the reporting, on May 19, 2025, Zachary Terrell, a DOGE affiliate working inside NSF, wrote: "WH just sent me a list of misinformation related grants that should be terminated." "WH" refers to the White House.
Other records describe how lists of awards moved through the agency:
- In April 2025, NSF's chief of staff sent along awards that two DOGE consultants had flagged "when they came on day one."
- On April 24, 2025, NSF's chief operating officer forwarded a cut list and noted that it "contains many awards from Congressionally mandated programs."
- The same records include a grant list that started at the Florida governor's office, forwarded by the DOGE affiliate with the message "let's cancel," and a file in which "our DOGE rep" had identified 500 awards.
What Congress Was Told
Later, in July, Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, told the House Science Committee: "The White House is not involved in which proposals get funding at National Science Foundation."
The White House says there is no contradiction, because Kratsios was speaking for OSTP, his own office. Representative George Whitesides has said Kratsios "tried to mislead Congress, if not outright lie to us." Readers can compare the records and the testimony and draw their own conclusions.
Why the Paper Trail Matters
The terminations were carried out through NSF staff, and the records show employees asking in writing before acting, for example, "OK if I proceed?" Those written questions are a large part of why the public now knows how the decisions were made.
For federal employees, the lesson is practical. If you are handed a list or directive and asked to act on it, ask for the instruction in writing, note who it came from and when, and keep a record. If you believe a directive conflicts with a law, regulation, or congressional mandate, a written record protects you and makes it possible to raise concerns through the proper channels.
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Legal Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Federal employment situations are fact-specific and time-sensitive. Please consult a qualified federal employment attorney about your specific situation. You can contact Southworth PC at attorneysforfederalemployees.com.