NSF Plans to Slash Grant Solicitations in Half After 18% Staff Exodus

The National Science Foundation announced plans to cut its grant solicitations roughly in half, a move that could reshape how tens of thousands of researchers compete for federal funding.

NSF Chief Management Officer Micah Cheatham disclosed the consolidation during a National Science Board meeting on February 25, describing a reduction from over 200 active solicitations to 100 or fewer. "The fewer solicitations you have, the less time grant applicants have to figure out which of our pigeonholes they fit into," Cheatham said.

Staffing Crisis Drove the Decision

The solicitation overhaul follows a turbulent year for the agency. NSF lost 18.3% of its workforce between September 2024 and October 2025, dropping from roughly 2,000 employees to approximately 1,300. The losses came through a combination of executive orders on "workforce optimization," deferred resignation programs, and early retirements.

Cheatham acknowledged the current headcount is unsustainable. "Today, we are at about 1,300 on rolls, which is too low," he told the board, adding that NSF is seeking approval to hire back toward levels permitted in the FY2026 budget request.

The cuts did flatten the agency's hierarchy — most employees now sit three management layers from leadership, down from five — but the loss of institutional knowledge has already produced visible consequences. Thousands of active grants were terminated over the past year, and graduate fellowship applications are being returned without review despite appearing to meet eligibility requirements.

What It Means for Grant Seekers

NSF Acting Director Brian Stone framed the consolidation as a net positive, arguing that broader solicitations paired with improved technology would better "route" applications to the right reviewers. But board member Dorota Grejner-Brzezinska pushed back directly, questioning whether fewer solicitations would translate to fewer scientists receiving awards — particularly junior faculty seeking career-launching grants.

The concern is well-founded. Broader solicitations typically mean larger applicant pools competing for the same dollars, which can push success rates lower even if total funding stays flat. NSF's $8.75 billion FY2026 budget supports roughly 10,000 new awards annually, but how those awards get distributed through a restructured solicitation pipeline remains unclear.

Researchers currently navigating NSF's funding landscape should monitor the agency's funding page closely as the consolidation rolls out. Tools like Granted can help teams track which solicitations survive the merge and identify the right fit before submission windows narrow. No implementation timeline has been announced, but the restructuring appears to already be underway.