What is the Latest Update on the US Federal Science Budget?

In summary, there have been recent discussions and proposals regarding the US federal science budget, particularly in the areas of research funding and the creation of a new agency for biomedical research. The House has passed two bipartisan bills aimed at increasing funding for traditional research initiatives at the National Science Foundation and the Energy Department's Office of Science, while the Senate has passed the Endless Frontier Act which focuses on investing in emerging technologies to compete with China. However, these bills still need to go through the process of reconciliation and approval before being signed into law by the President. There have been concerns and debates over the effectiveness and focus of these bills, with some advocating for more resources to be allocated towards proven research and development abilities. As of now, there have been no
  • #1
StatGuy2000
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Hi everyone!

I was wondering if any of you here on PF have heard any news related to the US federal science budget (whether through the NSF, the DOE, etc.). I was curious to see what are some of the research areas that the Biden administration would be promoting, as I haven't heard any news or announcements in this area.
 
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  • #2
You can see the President's Budget Request here https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/ I would say that it is not particularly friendly to the physical sciences.

The Congressional marks are not out yet. In the US, by the Constitution, all bills dealing with money must start in the House. The PBR is just that, a request.
 
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  • #3
The House and Senate are currently working on reconciling different bills that aim to increase NSF funding:

The House on Monday passed two bipartisan bills aimed at bolstering research and development programs in the United States, setting up a battle with the Senate over how best to invest in scientific innovation to strengthen American competitiveness.

The bills are the House’s answer to the sprawling Endless Frontier Act that the Senate overwhelmingly passed this month, which would sink unprecedented federal investments into a slew of emerging technologies in a bid to compete with China. But lawmakers who drafted the House measures took a different approach, calling for a doubling of funding over the next five years for traditional research initiatives at the National Science Foundation and a 7 percent increase for the Energy Department’s Office of Science.

The contrast reflected concerns among House lawmakers that the Senate bill placed an outsize and overly prescriptive focus on developing nascent technologies and on replicating Beijing’s aggressive moves to gain industrial dominance. Instead, the lawmakers argued, the United States should pour more resources into its own proven research and development abilities.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/28/us/politics/house-science-research-bills.html

See also:
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/06/house-science-panel-firms-its-plan-expand-nsf
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01559-x

Also, in the PBR mentioned above, Biden proposed creating a new agency modeled on DARPA to fund biomedical research, which he calls ARPA-H (Advanced Research Projecets Agency - Health):
The Biden administration today began to flesh out a proposal for a new agency—modeled on the military’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)—that would seek to speed the development of medical treatments by funding risky, innovative projects. The agency, dubbed ARPA-Health (ARPA-H), would be housed at the National Institutes of Health and have a 2022 budget of $6.5 billion, according to a White House spending request released today.

Few other details about ARPA-H have been released, except that it would initially focus on cancer and diseases “such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s.” Advocates who have been pushing for the new agency welcomed the announcement, but some were dismayed that ARPA-H will not be a stand-alone agency within the Department of Health and Human Services.
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/04/biden-wants-65-billion-new-health-agency-speed-treatments

Here's essentially an OpEd published in Science from officials within the NIH and the president's administration advocating for ARPA-H: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/06/22/science.abj8547
 
  • #4
The bills are the House’s answer to the sprawling Endless Frontier Act that the Senate overwhelmingly passed this month, which would sink unprecedented federal investments into a slew of emerging technologies in a bid to compete with China. But lawmakers who drafted the House measures took a different approach, calling for a doubling of funding over the next five years for traditional research initiatives at the National Science Foundation and a 7 percent increase for the Energy Department’s Office of Science.

None of these make a whit of difference. The only thing that matters are the appropriation bills. These other bills are there so Members of Congress can tell "the folks back home" that they are in favor of something even if they don't appropriate any money for it.

The President issues the PBR, usually in February. The nest step is the House and Senate marks - essentially what each house of Congress thinks should be the budget. Months pass going back and forth between OMB, the House and Senate, and ultimately a bill is put together that (in theory) everyone can live with. It's then put to vote - straight up or down, no amendments - in the House and then the Senate. Hopefully it's passed in both and then the President signs it.

There are multiple failure modes, but that's how it's supposed to work. AFIAK, we have neither mark yet.
 
  • #5
Vanadium 50 said:
None of these make a whit of difference. The only thing that matters are the appropriation bills. These other bills are there so Members of Congress can tell "the folks back home" that they are in favor of something even if they don't appropriate any money for it.

The President issues the PBR, usually in February. The nest step is the House and Senate marks - essentially what each house of Congress thinks should be the budget. Months pass going back and forth between OMB, the House and Senate, and ultimately a bill is put together that (in theory) everyone can live with. It's then put to vote - straight up or down, no amendments - in the House and then the Senate. Hopefully it's passed in both and then the President signs it.

There are multiple failure modes, but that's how it's supposed to work. AFIAK, we have neither mark yet.
I'm curious as a follow-up to the reply from @Vanadium 50 in this thread if there had been any further news from the Biden administration regarding any finalized bills related to science funding. I've heard very little news on this.
 

FAQ: What is the Latest Update on the US Federal Science Budget?

1. What is the current US science budget?

The current US science budget for fiscal year 2021 is $125.5 billion, which is an increase of 3% from the previous year.

2. How does the US science budget compare to other countries?

The US has the largest science budget in the world, with China coming in second at $117.9 billion. However, when adjusted for population and GDP, the US ranks lower in terms of investment in science compared to other developed countries.

3. How is the US science budget allocated?

The US science budget is divided among various federal agencies, with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) receiving the largest portion at $41.6 billion, followed by the National Science Foundation (NSF) at $8.2 billion. Other agencies that receive funding include NASA, the Department of Energy, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

4. Has the US science budget been affected by recent political changes?

Yes, the US science budget has been subject to fluctuations and changes based on political decisions and priorities. For example, the Trump administration proposed significant cuts to science funding, while the Biden administration has proposed increases in certain areas such as climate research and clean energy.

5. What are the potential impacts of changes in the US science budget?

Changes in the US science budget can have a significant impact on the nation's scientific progress and innovation. Decreases in funding can lead to cuts in research and development, which can hinder advancements in various fields such as healthcare, technology, and environmental science. On the other hand, increases in funding can support new discoveries and breakthroughs, leading to economic and societal benefits.

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