The Royal Society, Britain’s prestigious national academy of sciences, quietly urged Elon Musk to consider stepping down from his fellowship earlier this year, the Guardian has learned. The move came amid mounting concern over Musk’s association with former President Donald Trump’s administration and its attacks on scientific research.
Musk, who was elected a fellow in 2018 for his innovations in space and electric vehicles, faced internal criticism from Royal Society members for his role leading the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—a controversial agency accused of slashing research budgets and enforcing academic censorship.
In March, President-elect Sir Paul Nurse contacted Musk about the Trump administration’s “extensive damage” to U.S. science, urging him to intervene. Musk responded quickly, requesting more details. But when Nurse followed up with suggestions—such as speaking directly with affected U.S. scientists—Musk went silent.
By May, Nurse sent a more pointed message, stating that if Musk could not support the Society’s mission to defend science, he should consider resigning “in sorrow.” Musk didn’t respond until he was informed the correspondence would be shared with the Fellowship—and even then, his reply reportedly sidestepped the resignation suggestion.
Despite public pressure and internal dissent, the Royal Society opted not to investigate or discipline Musk. An internal email described the decision as pragmatic, though some fellows saw it as “terrible cowardice.”
Critics like Professor Stephen Curry say the academy missed a critical opportunity. “The Royal Society failed to enforce its own code of conduct,” he said. “They should have made it clear: if Musk doesn’t share the Society’s values, his fellowship ends.”
As of now, Elon Musk remains a Fellow of the Royal Society. His representatives have not publicly responded to the controversy.