NSF starts to kill grants that violate Trump's war on diversity efforts
science.org
science.org
1. The founding laws behind the NSF require it to help minorities.
2. The Constitution does not give the Executive branch the power of the purse, to contradict spending Congress has required by law.
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> [T]he NSF could have a hard time legally terminating grants, because their funds are appropriated by the US Congress, meaning they are protected by law, says Deborah Pearlstein, a specialist in law and public policy at Princeton University in New Jersey.
> Since 1980, Congress has mandated that the agency seek to broaden participation of underrepresented groups, including women and other minorities, within science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). “The orders are illegal,” says an NSF employee. “The statutory framework of NSF is being violated.”
> The NSF spokesperson did not respond to a query about concerns that Trump’s executive orders are at odds with the agency’s responsibilities, as codified in law.
-- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/inside-the-nsfs-e...
It doesn't matter what the laws say. No one is going to enforce them against this president or his admins and if they tried no police or military force would enact their orders. Trump is above the law. It's gameover.
In this case, pointing out that he is contradicting Congress is one of the few things that might help move the needle on Congressional impeachment.