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PSF has withdrawn $1.5M proposal to US Government grant program (pyfound.blogspot.com)

735 points by lumpa · 271 days ago · 770 comments on HN

Article summary

The Python Software Foundation (PSF) has withdrawn its $1.5 million proposal to the US government's National Science Foundation due to unacceptable terms in the grant agreement. The terms required the PSF to affirm that it does not and will not operate programs that advance or promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in violation of federal anti-discrimination laws. The PSF considered this requirement to be a potential threat to its values and mission. The organization is now seeking alternative funding sources, including donations.

Main themes

  • Government Funding
  • Open Source Software
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Non-Profit Organizations
  • Grant Agreements
  • Scientific Research

What commenters say

  • The PSF made a principled decision to reject the grant due to its restrictive terms, which could have compromised the organization's values and mission.
  • The terms of the grant agreement were overly broad and could have been used to target the PSF for its support of DEI initiatives, even if they are lawful.
  • The rejection of the grant may have significant financial implications for the PSF, but it also highlights the importance of protecting the organization's autonomy and values.
  • The US government's imposition of political terms on scientific grants poses a risk to the entire scientific research community, regardless of one's views on DEI.
  • The PSF's decision may have been motivated by a desire to avoid potential legal and financial risks associated with accepting the grant, including the possibility of having its non-profit status revoked.
  • Some commenters argue that the PSF should have accepted the grant and challenged the terms in court, while others believe that this would have been a costly and risky strategy.
  • The incident highlights the need for sustainable funding models for open source software and scientific research, rather than relying on government grants with restrictive terms.
  • The politicization of government grants undermines the integrity of the scientific research process and poses a threat to the long-term health of the research community.