Nov. 22, 2005

U.S. Support for Science Softens

With Congress considering 2006 budgets that would barely increase support for scientific research — if not cut it back — new data from the National Science Foundation suggest that the rapid expansion of federal research funding in recent years has already begun to ebb.

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A report released by the science foundation late last week project that federal obligations for research would be $54.698 billion in 2005, up 0.5 percent from the preliminary total of $54.450 billion in 2004. In inflation-adjusted dollars from 2000, the NSF report estimates, federal research obligations in 2005 are actually expected to decline by 1.5 percent, to $49.523 billion from $50.3 billion.

The picture looks better in some agencies than others. In actual 2005 funds, according to the NSF projections, federal research obligations rose in 2005 for the Departments of Health and Human Services, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the National Science Foundation, but declined for the Departments of Energy, Defense and Agriculture (see table below). In constant 2000 dollars, federal research obligations declined for all agencies but the NSF itself.

Total research federal obligations 2003-5, by agency (in millions)

Fiscal year	All agencies	Health and Human Services	Energy Dept.	Defense Dept.	NASA	NSF	Agriculture Dept.	Other departments
2003	$51,072	$26,288	$5,261	$5,816	$4,553	$3,609	$1,869	$3,677
2004 preliminary	54,450	28,106	5,812	5,958	5,171	3,730	1,985	3,688
2005 projected	54,698	28,770	5,794	5,724	5,217	3,844	1,800	3,549

The NSF study also looks at research funds as a component of all federal obligations for research, development and R&D plant facilities. Over all, in 2005, according to the NSF data, the government is projected to provide $110.193 billion in all funds for research and development and R&D facilities, with funds for research accounting for just about half of that total.

Federal Obligations for Research and Development, 2003-5 (in millions)

Fiscal year	Total R&D and R&D plant	Total research	Basic research	Applied research
2003	$97,928	$51,072	$24,751	$26,320
2004 preliminary	106,488	54,450	26,436	28,013
2005 projected	110,193	54,698	26,860	27,838

Source: National Science Foundation

— Doug Lederman

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Comments

One wonders how the budget for faith- nased initiatives compares, considering the general animosity toward rational thought that characterizes the Bush administration.

Thane Doss, at 8:23 am EST on November 22, 2005

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