Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2009
Abstract
President Bush has proposed total research and development (R&D) funding of $147.0 billion in his FY2009 budget request to Congress, a $3.9 billion (2.7%) increase over the estimated FY2008 level of $143.1 billion. Five federal agencies would receive 92.8% of total federal R&D spending: the Department of Defense (54.8%), Department of Health and Human Services (20.1%), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (7.3%), Department of Energy (7.2%), and National Science Foundation (3.5%). The President s request includes $29.3 billion for basic research, up $847 million (3.0%) from FY2008; $27.1 billion for applied research, down $1.0 billion (-3.6%); $84.0 billion for development, up 1.6 billion (1.9%); and $6.5 billion for R&D facilities and equipment, up $2.5 billion (61.7%). Congress is to play a central role in defining the nation s R&D priorities, especially with respect to two overarching issues: the extent to which the Federal R&D investment can grow in the context of increased pressure on discretionary spending and how available funding will be prioritized and allocated. A low or negative growth rate in the overall R&D investment may require movement of resources across disciplines, programs, or agencies to address priorities. The Administration has requested significantly larger percentage increases in the R&D budgets of the three agencies that are part of its American Competitiveness Initiative: the Department of Energy s Office of Science, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. In 2007, Congress authorized substantial R&D increases for these agencies under the America COMPETES Act (P.L. 110-69). The President s budget would reduce R&D funding for four agencies: the Department of Agriculture, down $357 million (-15.5%); the Department of Veterans Affairs, down $76 million (-7.9%); the Department of the Interior, down $59 million (-8.7%); and the Environmental Protection Agency, down $7 million (-1.3%).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 15, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA488048
Entities
People
- Christine M. Matthews
- Daniel Morgan
- John D. Moteff
- John F. Sargent
- Pamela W. Smith
- Robert Esworthy
- Wayne A. Morrissey
- Wendy H. Schacht
Organizations
- Library of Congress