The PSF has withdrawn a $1.5M proposal to US Government grant program
6 months ago
- #Python
- #DEI
- #Grant Funding
- The Python Software Foundation (PSF) withdrew a $1.5 million grant proposal from the US National Science Foundation due to restrictive DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) clauses.
- The new grant terms required the PSF to affirm it does not and will not promote DEI initiatives, conflicting with the PSF's mission to support a diverse Python community.
- PSF's legal advisors confirmed the clause would apply to all PSF activities, not just the security work funded by the grant.
- Accepting the grant posed an existential risk, as non-compliance could lead to the funds being clawed back after expenditure.
- The PSF Board unanimously voted to reject the funding, prioritizing its mission over financial gain.