🌅 The Brain Drain at Federal Agencies

SOURCE

Science

WHAT TO KNOW

• A new analysis by Science found 10,109 doctoral-trained experts in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields left the federal government in 2025, more than double the amount that left in 2024 (4,576 departures), the final year of the Biden administration. Data from the White House Office of Personnel Management (OPM) shows departures at 14 federal research agencies outnumbered new hires by 11 to 1 last year, resulting in a net loss of 4,224 STEM PhDs across the federal government.

WHY IT MATTERS

• The National Institutes of Health was hit the hardest, losing 1,112 STEM PhDs last year, followed by the Food and Drug Administration (760 departures), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (519). The National Science Foundation lost a net 205 STEM and health-related PhDs last year, representing 40% of its total pre-Trump PhD workforce.

CONNECT THE DOTS

• Science found the most common reasons for departures were retirement and quitting, which the OPM classifies as voluntary, though outside forces like the fear of being fired, buyout offers, and profound disagreements with Trump’s policies very likely influenced many decisions to leave. The analysis also found many PhDs left agencies because their position was terminated, including at the NSF, where 45% of the departing STEM PhDs were rotators (academics on leave from their universities to work at the agency). Last year, the NSF eliminated three-quarters of such positions.