None
EN
Federal Agencies See Sharp Decline in Ph.D.-Level Scientists Following Workforce Reductions
['Harikrishnan A', 'Aspiring Writer. Enjoys Gaming', 'Fried Chicken', 'Iced Tea', 'Preferably All Together.']
TechStory
The departing scientists collectively accounted for more than 106,600 years of accumulated federal service experience in 2025.
On average, agencies lost about three times as many doctoral-trained STEM and health employees as they had the year before.
Research-Driven Agencies Face Disproportionate ImpactWhile workforce reductions affected a wide range of federal employees, agencies with a strong research focus experienced the deepest losses among their most highly trained staff.
NSF has long stood out for employing a higher share of Ph.D.-trained scientists than any other federal agency.
Calculations of lost service time include civilian employment, creditable military service, and other qualifying federal service.