AIP FYI #11: FY 2005 National Science Foundation Budget Request

The Bush Administration has requested a 3.0% increase for the
National Science Foundation for the fiscal year starting on October
1. This represents an increase of $167.2 million over the current
year budget of $5,577.8 million, to $5,745.0 million.

In describing the FY 2005 request, NSF Director Rita Colwell stated,
“This year, we have had to make informed choices in a sea of mixed
opportunity and constraint.” Components of the budget request vary
greatly in percentage changes over the current year. Research and
Related Activities spending would increase 4.7%, while funding for
Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction would climb by
37.6%. In contrast, the Education and Human Resources budget would
be cut by 17.9%.

In its budget submission to Congress, NSF identifies three
priorities:

“Strengthen NSF management to maximize effectiveness and
performance.” The foundation is requesting $70 million to
“strengthen the NSF workforce” and for the enhancement of
information technology infrastructure and related activities.

“Improve the productivity of researchers and expand opportunities
for students.” Emphasis will be placed on increasing grant size to
an annual average of $142,000, as well as efforts to increase grant
duration.

“Strengthen the nation’s performance with world-class instruments
and facilities.” The budget document explains that “investment of
all types (Tools) rises to $1.47 billion, representing 26% of the FY
2005 Budget Request.”

The foundation intends to “continue to support five priority areas
with promising research horizons.” Only one of these areas,
Nanoscale Science and Engineering, would see an increase, in this
instance by 20.3% or $51.6 million. Biocomplexity in the
Environment and Mathematical Sciences would each receive flat
funding. Human and Social Dynamics would fall by 4.1%. A new
priority, Workforce for the 21st Century, would receive $20.00
million

In describing the FY 2005 budget request, Director Colwell
commented, “This year the National Science Foundation is requesting
$5.745 billion dollars, an increase of $167 million, or 3 percent
above the FY 2004 budget estimate. In light of the significant
challenges that face the nation-in security, defense, and the
economy-this increase is a tribute to the extraordinary performance
of the 200,000-plus students, teachers and researchers who are
directly supported by NSF each year, and a vote of confidence for
the National Science Foundation’s performance. Thanks to strong
support for NSF’s vision and mission in the Administration and
Congress, the NSF budget has grown steadily-by 62 percent between FY
1998 and FY 2004.”

A different view was offered by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), a
senior Democrat on the House Science Committee who stated, “Two
years ago, the Congress sent the President a bill authorizing a
doubling of NSF’s programs over 5 years. Despite signing that bill
to glowing reviews, the President has sent us two successive budgets
that fall far short of reaching that goal. With this budget
submission we stand $3 billion below the doubling path. This marks a
fundamental breach of trust with our institutions of higher
education and with our children, who depend on NSF to fund the best
and brightest to pursue the most promising scientific insights. The
only thing more surprising is the 18% cut to the education and human
resources budget account from an Administration that has claimed
education of our youth as one of its rhetorical hallmarks.”

Forthcoming issues of FYI will review various components of the FY
2005 NSF budget request.

Richard M. Jones

Media and Government Relations Division

The American Institute of Physics

fyi@aip.org http://www.aip.org/gov

(301) 209-3094