If nothing else, the endless Trump/DOGE/MAGA coordinated attacks on every aspect of federal government services is bringing to light, all be it too late it would seem, the vast expertise and responsibilities of government employees who work for dozens of agencies and departments that most Americans have never heard of before. Via Wired [unpaywalled] – “The team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology publishes measurement data crucial for advanced research in areas like astrophysics, nuclear fusion, and semiconductors. The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is discussing plans to eliminate an entire team responsible for publishing and maintaining critical atomic measurement data in the coming weeks, as the Trump administration continues its efforts to reduce the US federal workforce, according to a March 18 email sent to dozens of outside scientists. The data in question underpins advanced scientific research around the world in areas like semiconductor manufacturing and nuclear fusion.

We were recently informed that unless there is a major change in the Federal Government reorganization plans, the whole Atomic Spectroscopy Group will be laid off in a few weeks, in particular, since our work is not considered to be statutorily essential for the NIST mission,” Yuri Ralchenko, the group’s leader, wrote in the email, which was seen by WIRED.”