Cantwell Statement on Resignation of NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan
04.24.25 Cantwell Statement on Resignation of NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan EDMONDS, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, released this statement regarding the resignation of Sethuraman Panchanathan as Director of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF): “The National Science Foundation 55 percent budget cut is a deliberate dismemberment of America's innovation engine by Russell Vought and DOGE. This is exactly the type of behavior you would expect from someone seeking to make America weaker and less competitive in the face of its adversaries — it is the type of behavior you would expect from a Chinese Communist Party asset. “Don't blame Panch for stepping down.” In April 2023, Sen. Cantwell invited Director Panchanathan to Washington state to discuss opportunities available thanks to the CHIPS & Science Act. At the University of Washington, Panchanathan toured UW’s quantum computing facilities, then joined a forum to discuss diversity in STEM. In Spokane, Panchanathan saw firsthand how Spokane organizations have collaborated to drive the region’s current and future potential as a leader in technology innovation. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article
be35964e-d9c9-4226-a279-db98b4f80054Edit history (1 prior version)
This release was edited after publication. Earlier captures are preserved below.
- Captured May 2, 2026, 10:10 AM EDT
Show prior body text
EDMONDS, WA– Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, released this statement regarding the resignation of Sethuraman Panchanathan as Director of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF): “The National Science Foundation 55 percent budget cut is a deliberate dismemberment of America's innovation engine by Russell Vought and DOGE. This is exactly the type of behavior you would expect from someone seeking to make America weaker and less competitive in the face of its adversaries — it is the type of behavior you would expect from a Chinese Communist Party asset. “Don't blame Panch for stepping down.” In April 2023, Sen. Cantwell invited Director Panchanathan to Washington state to discuss opportunities available thanks to the CHIPS & Science Act. At the University of Washington, PanchanathantouredUW’s quantum computing facilities, then joined a forum to discuss diversity in STEM. In Spokane, Panchanathansawfirsthand how Spokane organizations have collaborated to drive the region’s current and future potential as a leader in technology innovation.
Issued within 24 hours
Other senators' releases published in the day before or after this one.
