I would tend to assume that the people overseeing the NSF are accomplished scientists. China has been more than happy to recruit those for at least the past couple decades. That said, I doubt this move negatively impacts their careers so I don't expect this alone would motivate any of them to leave the country. Other things might though.

> Or that China manages its domestic variant of the NSF better

Prior to Trump probably yes. Post Trump almost certainly.

> and accepts people critical of the CCP ideology?

Obviously not. But why are you assuming that those removed from their posts were vocal critics of the CCP?