The United States National Science Foundation (NSF) has recently updated its funding priorities.
While the funding priorities include “broadening participation activities”, these activities must “aim to create opportunities for all Americans everywhere”. Apparently, however, because all awards have been terminated that involve diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, previously funded projects involving DEI objectives do not align with the NSF priority of creating opportunities for all Americans everywhere.
There is an allowance for investigators who wish to expand participation in STEM for women and underrepresented groups. These investigators “must ensure that all outreach, recruitment, or participatory activities in NSF projects are open and available to all Americans”. The caveat is that “engagement activities cannot indirectly preference or exclude individuals or groups based on protected characteristics”.
It is not clear what criteria would deem an activity as indirectly preferential towards a particular group, but questions about these updated priorities can be submitted through a webform found here.
Note: The above quotes were taken from the press release about “Updates of NSF Priorities” (https://www.nsf.gov/updates-on-priorities).