R44170Appropriations

The National Science Foundation: FY2016 Budget Request and Funding History

Federal & State Law Editorial TeamLast reviewed: August 2015

August 28, 2015

Summary

Congressional Research Service

7-5700

www.crs.gov

R44170

Summary

The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports both basic research and education in the non-medical sciences and engineering. Congress established the foundation in 1950 and directed it to “promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense; and for other purposes.” The NSF is a major source of federal support for U.S. university research, especially in certain fields such as mathematics and computer science. It is also responsible for significant shares of the federal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education program portfolio and federal STEM student aid and support.

Overall, the Obama Administration seeks $7.724 billion for the NSF in FY2016, a $379 million (5%) increase over the FY2015 estimate of $7.344 billion. Under the request, the main research account (Research and Related Activities or RRA) would increase by $253 million or 4%. The main education account (Education and Human Resources) would grow by nearly $100 million (11%).

H.R. 2578 (Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016) as passed by the House would provide $7.394 billion to the NSF in FY2016, or $50 million more than the FY2015 estimated funding level. The same bill as reported by the Senate Committee on Appropriations would provide $7.344 billion, or no change from the prior year. The Obama Administration threatened to veto H.R. 2578 when it was considered by the House (for a variety of reasons, only some of which related to the NSF).

As passed by the House and as reported by the Senate committee, H.R. 2578 would provide close to FY2015 levels to five of six major NSF accounts in FY2016. The primary difference between the House and the Senate committee is on funding for RRA. The House proposes a $50 million increase; the Senate committee recommends the FY2015 estimated level. The main education account would not increase (as requested) under either proposal. Table 1 tracks FY2016 proposed funding levels for NSF.

The report that accompanied H.R. 2578 when it was reported from the House Committee on Appropriations contains language that would alter the balance of NSF research funding in favor of certain fields of science. The House report also directs NSF to describe—and publish with each award abstract—how each award serves the national interest. The Senate Appropriations Committee report includes no such provisions.

Growth in the NSF budget (year-over-year) slowed after FY2003 and has remained close to flat since FY2010. (Median year-over-year growth in NSF funding was 7% between FY1953 and FY2015, 4% between FY2004 and FY2015, and 2% between FY2011 and FY2015.) Table 2, Figure 1, and Figure 2 show the long-term trends in NSF authorizations, budget requests, and appropriations since the foundation was first authorized in the early 1950s.

Most NSF funding supports scientific and technological research. Further, the portion of NSF spending that goes to research increased over the past decade. Within the NSF total, RRA has accounted for the lion’s share of growth in NSF obligations since FY2003. (See Table 3.)

Table 4 shows FY2013 authorized funding levels, as well as FY2014 actual and FY2015 estimated appropriations to the NSF. It also includes proposed FY2016 funding levels under various NSF reauthorization measures introduced in the 114th Congress.

For more information about the NSF, see CRS Report R43585, The National Science Foundation: Background and Selected Policy Issues, by Heather B. Gonzalez; or CRS Report R43880, The America COMPETES Acts: An Overview, by Heather B. Gonzalez.

Contents

Introduction 1

FY2016 Budget and Appropriations Actions 1

Research and Related Activities (RRA) 4

Education and Human Resources (EHR) 5

Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) 6

NSF Funding History 6

FY2015 Budget and Appropriations (Final Summary) 7

FY2014 Budget and Appropriations (Final Summary) 8

Long-term Funding Trends (Tables and Figures) 8

Appropriations Authorizations 14

Figures

Figure 1. Current Dollar NSF Authorizations, Budget Requests, and Appropriations: FY1951 to FY2016 Request 11

Figure 2. Constant Dollar NSF Authorizations, Budget Requests, and Appropriations: FY1951 to FY2016 Request 12

Tables

Table 1. NSF Funding by Major Account 3

Table 2. NSF Authorizations, Budget Requests, and Appropriations: FY1951-FY2016 9

Table 3. NSF Obligations by Major Account: FY2003-FY2015 12

Table 4. NSF Funding Under Selected, Proposed Reauthorization Acts 14

Contacts

Author Contact Information 15

Introduction

This report describes selected items from the Administration’s FY2016 budget request for NSF and tracks legislative action on FY2016 appropriations to the foundation. It also details selected NSF appropriations authorizations proposed in the 114th Congress, summarizes budget and appropriations action from FY2015 and FY2014, and presents information on historical funding for the foundation.

NSF adopted its current appropriations account structure in FY2003. In general, NSF’s major accounts have been comparable since then. NSF has six major appropriations accounts: Research and Related Activities (RRA), Education and Human Resources (EHR), Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC), Agency Operations and Award Management (AOAM), National Science Board (NSB), and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The majority of NSF’s primary mission activities are funded through RRA, EHR, and MREFC.

Appropriations to NSF are typically included in annual Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Acts. (The Congressional Research Service tracks these acts on CRS.gov, at http://www.crs.gov/appropriationsstatustable/index.) NSF’s budget justifications are published on the agency’s website at http://www.nsf.gov/about/budget/. More information about the NSF may also be found in CRS Report R43585, The National Science Foundation: Background and Selected Policy Issues, by Heather B. Gonzalez; and CRS Report R43880, The America COMPETES Acts: An Overview, by Heather B. Gonzalez.

FY2016 Budget and Appropriations Actions

Overall, the Obama Administration seeks $7.724 billion for the NSF in FY2016, a $379 million (5%) increase over the FY2015 estimate of $7.344 billion. Under the request, RRA would increase by $253 million or 4%. EHR would grow by nearly $100 million (11%). (See Table 1.)

As passed by the House, H.R. 2578 (Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016) would provide a total of $7.394 billion to NSF in FY2016. This amount is $50 million (1%) more than the FY2015 estimated funding level and $329 million (4%) less than the Administration request. The House bill would keep most NSF accounts at FY2015 levels. The $50 million increase in total NSF funding would accrue to RRA. (A small increase in funding for the OIG would be offset by a similar reduction in MREFC.) When it was reported from the House Committee on Appropriations, H.R. 2578 was accompanied by H.Rept. 114-130 (referred to as the “House report” in the section). The House report directs NSF to comply with section 106 of H.R. 1806 (America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015) as reported, which requires NSF to publicly articulate (in the award abstract from NSF’s public awards database) how each award serves the national interest. The Obama Administration threatened to veto H.R. 2578 when it was considered by the House (for a variety of reasons, only some of which related to the NSF—see text box titled, “Veto?”).

As amended and reported by the Senate Committee on Appropriations, H.R. 2578 would provide close to the FY2015 estimated funding levels to all major NSF accounts in FY2016. RRA and MREFC would receive slightly less than their FY2015 funding levels; OIG would receive slightly more. When it was reported from the Senate Committee on Appropriations, H.R. 2578 was accompanied by S.Rept. 114-66 (referred to as the “Senate report” in this section).

NSF identified eight priorities in its FY2016 budget documents. Four of these programs have been foundation priorities since at least FY2013: Cyber-enabled Materials, Manufacturing, and Smart Systems (CEMMSS, $257 million requested, 11% increase); Cyberinfrastructure Framework for 21st Century Science, Engineering, and Education (CIF21, $143 million requested, 11% increase); Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability (SEES, $81 million requested, 42% reduction); and Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC, $124 million requested, 1% increase). New priorities in FY2016 include Clean Energy Technology ($377 million, 2% increase), Innovation Corps (I-Corps, $30 million, 14% increase), NSF Research Traineeships (NRT, $62 million, 1% increase), and Research at the Interface of Biological, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences (BioMaPS, $33 million, 12% increase).

Table 1. NSF Funding by Major Account

(budget authority in millions of dollars)

Account

FY2015

Estimate

FY2016

Request

House-Passed

Senate-Reported

Enacted

Research and Related Activities (RRA)

Biological Sciences (BIO)

731.0

747.9

see notea

n/s

Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE)

921.7

954.4

see notea

n/s

Engineering (ENG)

892.3

949.2

see notea

n/s

Geosciences (GEO)

1,304.4

1,365.4

see notea

n/s

Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS)

1,336.7

1,366.2

see notea

n/s

Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE)

272.2

291.5

see notea

n/s

Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE)a

48.5

51.0

48.5a

n/s

Integrative Activities (IA)a

425.3

459.2

425.3a

n/s

U.S. Arctic Research Commission (USARC)

1.4

1.5

1.4a

n/s

RRA Subtotal

5,933.7

6,186.3

5,983.6

5,933.6

Education and Human Resources (EHR)

866.0

962.6

866.0

Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC)

200.8

200.3

200.0

200.3

Agency Operations and Award Management (AOAM)

325.0

354.8

325.0

National Science Board (NSB)

4.4

Office of the Inspector General (OIG)

14.4

15.2

14.5

NSF, Total

7,344.2

7,723.6

7,394.2

7,343.8

Source: FY2016 NSF Budget Request to Congress; H.R. 2578, as passed by the House, and H.Rept. 113-130; as well as, H.R. 2578, as amended and reported in the Senate, and S.Rept. 114-54.

Notes: The account structure in Table 1 reflects the realignment (in FY2015) of OISE and IA as separate budget activities. The term “n/s” means “not specified.” Totals may not add due to rounding.

H.Rept. 114-130 directs NSF to ensure that the BIO, CISE, ENG, and MPS directorates receive 70% of the committee recommendation for RRA, or $4.189 billion, in FY2016. The remaining $1.795 billion would be distributed to the other RRA accounts: GEO, SBE, OISE, IA, and USARC. Of the $1.795 billion provided for GEO, SBE, OISE, IA, and USARC, $475 million would go to OISE, IA, and USARC. (This is because the House report further directs NSF to provide no less than the FY2015 estimate for OISE, IA, and USARC in FY2016.) The remaining funds, $1.320 billion, would go to GEO and SBE.

Research and Related Activities (RRA)

The Administration seeks $6.186 billion for RRA in FY2016. This amount is $253 million (4%) more than the FY2015 estimated funding level of $5.934 billion. H.R. 2578, as passed by the House, would provide $5.984 billion to this account in FY2016. As amended and reported by the Senate Committee on Appropriations, H.R. 2578 would provide $5.934 billion.

FY2015 House report language (H.Rept. 113-448) directed NSF to apply any additional appropriations (over FY2015 RRA requested levels) to four major RRA subaccounts: BIO, CISE, ENG, and MPS. NSF received $126 million more than requested for RRA in FY2015. As directed, NSF applied the additional funding to the specified major RRA subaccounts, which each received 3% to 4% increases over FY2015 requested levels. Funding for GEO, SBE, IIA/OISE, and USARC was at FY2015 requested levels.

The FY2016 request seeks increases ranging from 2% to 8% for all major RRA subaccounts. However, the request seeks slightly more (on average, as a percentage over the prior year) for accounts that did not receive extra funding over requested levels in FY2015 (i.e., GEO, SBE, IIA/OISE, and USARC). Nevertheless, more than half of the total requested increase for RRA (54% of $253 million) would go to BIO, CISE, ENG, and MPS.

Veto?

On June 1, 2015, the Obama Administration issued a “Statement of Administration Policy” on H.R. 2578, as considered by the House. That statement indicated that the Administration strongly opposed House passage of H.R. 2578 and that senior advisors would recommend a veto. The statement described a number of concerning provisions from the bill, most of which were not related to NSF. However, the statement also cited perceived insufficiencies in the NSF top line, as well as the allocation of RRA funding by discipline.

As previously noted, H.R. 2578, as passed by the House, would provide a total of $5.984 billion to RRA in FY2016—about $50 million more than the FY2015 estimate. The House report further directs NSF to provide no less than 70% of total FY2016 RRA funding to BIO, CISE, ENG, and MPS. Under these provisions, BIO, CISE, ENG, and MPS would split $4.189 billion in FY2016. This amount represents an 8% increase ($307 million) over the combined total that these four major subaccounts received in FY2015 ($3.882 billion).

The remaining major RRA subaccounts (GEO, SBE, OISE, IA, and USARC) would split $1.795 billion. This amount is $257 million or 13% less than the combined total these accounts received in FY2015 ($2.052 billion). Other House report provisions further direct NSF to provide at least FY2015 levels to OISE, IA, and USARC. Therefore, of the $1.795 billion total provided for GEO, SBE, OISE, IA, and USARC in the House report, $475 million would go to OISE, IA, and USARC, while GEO and SBE would split $1.320 billion. GEO and SBE received $1.577 billion (combined) in FY2015, which is $257 million (16%) more than they would receive in FY2016 under the House report. Distributed proportionally, which the House report does not require but has been past practice at NSF in some instances, this 16% decrease in funding would reduce support for GEO by $212 million (from $1.304 billion in FY2015 to $1.092 billion in FY2015) and would reduce support for SBE by $44 million (from $272 million in FY2015 to $228 million in FY2016).

Other RRA provisions in the House report provide $147 million for the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) initiative; $177 million for Advanced Manufacturing; and $50 million for the International Ocean Drilling Program (IODP).

As amended and reported by the Senate Committee on Appropriations, H.R. 2578 would provide $5.934 billion to RRA in FY2016—the same amount as the FY2015 estimate, $253 million less than the request, and $50 million less than the House. The Senate report is silent on the question of the distribution of funding by major subaccount within RRA. Provisions in the Senate report include $15 million for research in biomanufacturing; $159 million for cybersecurity research; and $10 million for a pilot program to provide research funding to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) from within RRA. (HBCUs already receive targeted funding through EHR.)

The House report would provide $160 million for the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR); the Senate report would provide just under this amount. The Administration seeks $170 million for EPSCoR in FY2016, $10 million (6%) more than the FY2015 estimated funding level of just under $160 million.

Education and Human Resources (EHR)

The FY2016 request for EHR is $963 million, or $97 million (11%) more than the FY2015 estimated level of $866 million. Most of the requested increase ($81 million) would go to activities classified as research and development (R&D). This additional investment would further shift the balance between R&D and education and training within EHR. If Congress adopts the FY2016 request, the portion of EHR dedicated to R&D activities would increase to 49%. By comparison, in FY2008 (the earliest year for which comparable budget data are available), R&D activities constituted 11% of EHR funding. The character of EHR’s R&D funding has also shifted, moving from about 91% basic research in FY2008 to about 33% basic research in the FY2016 request. It is not entirely clear what has driven these changes or how these changes have affected program activities and constituencies.

EHR programs that are widely tracked by congressional policymakers include the Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) and National Research Traineeship (NRT). The FY2016 request for GRF is $338 million, $4 million (1%) over the FY2015 estimated level of $333 million. GRF funding would be split equally between RRA and EHR, which would each contribute $169 million. The FY2016 request for NRT is $62 million, which is essentially the same as the FY2015 estimate. Funding for the NRT would not be evenly split between EHR and RRA. The RRA contribution would be $27 million, $7 million below the FY2015 estimate of $33 million. The EHR contribution would be $35 million, $7 million above the FY2015 estimate of $28 million.

The House-passed and Senate Committee on Appropriations-reported versions of H.R. 2578 agree on topline funding for EHR in FY2016. Each would provide $866 million. This amount is equal to the FY2015 estimate and $97 million below the request.

Provisions in the House report include $66 million for the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program—the same as the FY2015 funding level, FY2016 request, and Senate report recommendation. The House report also recommends $65 million for Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL), which is $10 million more than the FY2015 estimate and $5 million more than both the FY2016 request and Senate report recommendation.

The Senate report recommends $61 million for the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program (same as FY2015 estimate and FY2016 request); $45 million for Cybercorps: Scholarships for Service (same as FY2015 estimate and FY2016 request); and $52 million for STEM+C Partnerships ($5 million less than the FY2015 estimate and equal to the FY2016 request). The House report is silent on these programs.

Broadening participation provisions in the House report would provide $35 million for the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP). This amount is $3 million more than the FY2015 estimated funding level, the FY2016 request, and the Senate report recommendation. The House report also recommends $46 million for the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) and $14 million for the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (T-CUP). These amounts are equal to the FY2015 estimated funding levels, FY2016 requests, and Senate report recommendations for these two programs.

The Senate report recommends $8 million for Alliances for Graduate Education (AGEP) and $24 million for Centers for Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST). These amounts are the same as both the FY2015 estimated funding levels and FY2016 requests for these programs. The House report does not specify funding for these programs.

With respect to Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), the Senate report would provide $5 million for NSF to implement an HSI program. The House report would require NSF to report on targeted funding opportunities (of at least $30 million) for HSIs.

Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC)

The Administration seeks just over $200 million for MREFC in FY2016, which is close to the FY2015 estimate of $201 million. In FY2016, MREFC funding would pay for the final year of National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) construction, and would provide ongoing support for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) and Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST).

The House-passed and Senate Committee on Appropriations-reported versions of H.R. 2578 would each provide around $200 million to MREFC in FY2016; with the Senate report recommending the requested level (exactly) and the House report recommending slightly less.

NSF Funding History

The following sections summarize NSF budget and appropriations action from the two most recent fiscal years (FY2015 and FY2014), and provide funding data and trends since the foundation was established in 1950.

FY2015 Budget and Appropriations (Final Summary)

FY2015 enacted funding for NSF is $7.344 billion. This amount is $213 million (3%) more than the FY2014 actual funding level of $7.131 billion and $89 million (1%) more than the FY2015 request for $7.255 billion. Under the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (P.L. 113-235), RRA, EHR, NSB, and OIG received 3% to 4% more than their FY2014 actual levels. AOAM received 6% more; MREFC received no increase. Compared to the request, EHR and AOAM received 3% and 4% less, respectively, and RRA received 2% more. MREFC, NSB, and OIG received their requested levels.

The joint explanatory statement printed in the December 11, 2014, Congressional Record accompanied P.L. 113-325 and provided additional guidance on FY2015 funding for certain NSF programs and accounts. Among other things, the explanatory statement adopted by reference House report language requiring NSF to apply any funding increases it received for RRA (above requested levels) to MPS, CISE, ENG, and BIO.

The Administration initially sought $7.255 billion in funding for the NSF in FY2015. The request held funding levels for RRA and MREFC essentially constant while seeking a 7% increase for EHR as well as an 11% increase for AOAM. Most of the requested increase in AOAM funding was for the new NSF headquarters. NSF’s FY2015 budget request to Congress highlighted five initiatives that were also foundation priorities in FY2014: Cognitive Science and Neuroscience ($29 million); Cyber-enabled Materials, Manufacturing, and Smart Systems ($213 million); Cyberinfrastructure Framework for 21st Century Science, Engineering, and Education ($125 million); Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability ($139 million); and Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace ($100 million). The FY2015 NSF budget request incorporated STEM education program changes in accordance with the Administration’s revised FY2015 government-wide reorganization of federal STEM education programs.

The House passed H.R. 4660 (Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015) by a vote of 321 to 87 on May 30, 2014. H.Rept. 113-448 accompanied H.R. 4660 when it was reported from the House Committee on Appropriations. Among other things, H.R. 4660 would have provided $7.394 billion to NSF in FY2015. This amount was $139 million (2%) more than the Administration’s FY2015 request and $263 million (4%) over FY2014 actual. The House-passed bill would have provided a 3% increase over FY2014 actual and the FY2015 request for RRA, as well as increases (though smaller than the request) for EHR and AOAM. H.R. 4660 would have provided the requested levels for MREFC, NSB, and OIG.

The Senate Committee on Appropriations reported S. 2437 (Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015) on June 5, 2014. S.Rept. 113-181 accompanied S. 2437 when it was reported from the committee. The Senate Committee on Appropriations recommended the requested level for NSF in FY2015. However, relative to the request, the committee would distribute funding slightly differently across two of NSF’s major accounts. The Senate Committee on Appropriations recommended providing approximately $30 million more than the request to RRA and reducing AOAM by an equivalent amount. The committee recommended the requested levels for EHR, MREFC, NSB, and OIG.

FY2014 Budget and Appropriations (Final Summary)

FY2014 enacted funding for NSF was $7.172 billion. This amount was $270 million (4%) more than NSF’s FY2013 actual funding level of $6.902 billion. Most of the $270 million increase ($250 million) went to RRA. FY2014 enacted funding for NSF’s six major accounts was $5.809 billion for RRA (including $158 million for EPSCoR), $847 million for EHR, $200 million for MREFC, $298 million for AOAM, $4 million for NSB, and $14 million for OIG.

The Obama Administration initially sought $7.626 billion in funding for the NSF in FY2014. NSF’s FY2014 budget request to Congress noted that its overarching priorities for FY2014 would include six programs: Cyber-enabled Materials, Manufacturing, and Smart Systems; Cyberinfrastructure Framework for 21st Century Science, Engineering, and Education; NSF Innovation Corps; Integrated NSF Support Promoting Interdisciplinary Research and Education; Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability; and Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace. The FY2014 NSF budget request also incorporated several changes to the foundation’s STEM education programs in accordance with the Administration’s proposed FY2014 government-wide reorganization of federal STEM education programs.

The House and Senate Committees on Appropriations recommended $6.995 billion and $7.426 billion, respectively, for NSF in FY2014. Both committees initially rejected the Administration’s proposed changes to the federal STEM education effort, including changes to NSF programs. The final FY2014 appropriations agreement reiterated this objection. The appropriations committees initially disagreed on funding for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) in the MREFC account—the Senate Committee on Appropriations sought to fund the new project, the House Committee on Appropriations would not. The final agreement provided some of the requested funding for the LSST and encouraged the foundation to seek permission to transfer funds from other accounts if the amount appropriated was insufficient.

Long-term Funding Trends (Tables and Figures)

The following tables and figures include information about historical funding to NSF.

NSF Authorizations, Budget Requests, and Appropriations: FY1951-FY2016

Table 2, Figure 1, and Figure 2 show the trends in NSF authorizations, budget requests, and appropriations since the foundation was first authorized in the early 1950s. Except in FY1957, current and constant dollar actual appropriations to NSF grew rapidly between FY1951 and FY1966. After FY1967, appropriations fluctuated (up some years and down in others) until about FY1988. NSF experienced two periods of generally sustained growth in current and constant dollar appropriations between FY1989 and FY1995, and again in between FY1998 and FY2003. Since FY2004, growth in the NSF budget has slowed compared to prior years.

Table 2. NSF Authorizations, Budget Requests, and Appropriations: FY1951-FY2016

In Millions, Current and Constant (FY2016) Dollars, Rounded

Fiscal Year

Current

($ millions)

Constant

(FY2016 $ millions)

Authorization

Request

Appropriation

Authorization

Request

Appropriation

1951

such sums

1952

such sums

105

1953

such sums

110

1954

such sums

109

1955

such sums

101

103

1956

such sums

218

373

1957

such sums

280

271

1958

such sums

428

341

1959

such sums

140

138

such sums

907

891

1960

such sums

160

153

such sums

1,025

977

1961

such sums

190

176

such sums

1,198

1,108

1962

such sums

210

263

such sums

1,311

1,643

1963

such sums

358

323

such sums

2,207

1,988

1964

such sums

589

353

such sums

3,588

2,150

1965

such sums

488

420

such sums

2,919

2,516

1966

such sums

530

480

such sums

3,106

2,812

1967

such sums

525

481

such sums

2,985

2,735

1968

such sums

526

495

such sums

2,892

2,722

1969

525

500

400

2,760

2,628

2,103

1970

478

500

440

2,382

2,494

2,195

1971

538

513

2,553

2,435

1972

653

622

2,956

2,818

1973

697

653

649

3,026

2,836

2,819

1974

633

583

579

2,565

2,363

2,349

1975

808

672

764

2,969

2,471

2,809

1976

787

755

715

2,706

2,597

2,459

1977

811

802

776

2,600

2,572

2,488

1978

879

944

863

2,642

2,836

2,593

1979

930

934

911

2,586

2,598

2,534

1980

1,002

1,006

992

2,563

2,574

2,537

1981

1,115

1,148

1,025

2,597

2,675

2,388

1982

n/a

1,354

1,039

n/a

2,952

2,265

1983

n/a

1,073

1,094

n/a

2,241

2,284

1984

n/a

1,292

1,341

n/a

2,607

2,705

1985

n/a

1,502

n/a

2,932

1986

1,517

1,569

1,524

2,896

2,996

2,909

1987

1,685

1,686

1,623

3,147

3,148

3,031

1988

n/a

1,893

1,717

n/a

3,425

3,106

1989

2,050

1,923

3,567

3,345

1990

2,388

2,149

2,082

4,009

3,608

3,496

1991

2,782

2,485

2,316

4,511

4,029

3,755

1992

3,245

2,742

2,571

5,136

4,341

4,068

1993

3,505

3,037

2,734

5,419

4,695

4,226

1994

n/a

2,753

2,983

n/a

4,165

4,513

1995

n/a

3,200

3,264

n/a

4,741

4,835

1996

n/a

3,360

3,220

n/a

4,887

4,683

1997

n/a

3,325

3,270

n/a

4,752

4,674

1998

3,506

3,367

3,431

4,949

4,754

4,843

1999

3,773

3,676

5,260

5,125

2000

3,886

3,921

3,912

5,308

5,356

5,343

2001

n/a

4,572

4,431

n/a

6,098

5,909

2002

n/a

4,473

4,823

n/a

5,871

6,331

2003

5,536

5,036

5,323

7,131

6,486

6,856

2004

6,391

5,481

5,589

8,032

6,889

7,024

2005

7,378

5,745

5,482

8,991

7,001

6,681

2006

8,520

5,605

5,589

10,055

6,615

6,596

2007

9,839

6,020

5,890

11,306

6,918

6,768

2008

6,600

6,429

6,125

7,431

7,238

6,896

2009

7,326

6,854

6,494

8,152

7,627

7,226

2010

8,132

7,045

6,873

8,971

7,772

7,582

2011

7,424

6,806

8,034

7,365

2012

7,800

7,767

7,033

8,295

8,260

7,479

2013

8,300

7,373

6,884

8,676

7,707

7,196

2014

n/a

7,626

7,172

n/a

7,852

7,384

2015

n/a

7,255

7.344

n/a

7,370

7,461

2016

n/a

7,724

n/a

7,724

Source: Funding data in the “Authorization” columns are from selected FY1951 to FY2013 NSF authorization acts. Funding data in the “Request” and “Appropriations” columns are from National Science Foundation, Budget Internet Information System, “NSF Requests and Appropriations History,” NSF.gov, February 25, 2015, http://dellweb.bfa.nsf.gov/NSFRqstAppropHist/NSFRequestsandAppropriationsHistory.pdf. To calculate constant FY2016 dollars, CRS used the Gross Domestic Product (Chained) Price Index found in Office of Management and Budget, Historical Tables, “Table 10.1,” February 2, 2015, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2015/assets/hist10z1.xls.

Notes: As per communication between CRS and NSF dated March 20, 2014, the “Appropriation” column shows funding provided in annual appropriations acts plus adjustments required in those acts, other laws, and committee reports, etc. Adjustments include rescissions, sequestration, funding transfers across NSF accounts, supplemental appropriations (not including American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, P.L. 111-5, funding in FY2009), and other changes. The resulting amounts most closely align with NSF’s approved Current Plans. The term “n/a” means “not available.”

Figure 1. Current Dollar NSF Authorizations, Budget Requests, and Appropriations: FY1951 to FY2016 Request

In Millions, Current Dollars, Rounded

Source: Table 2.

Figure 2. Constant Dollar NSF Authorizations, Budget Requests, and Appropriations: FY1951 to FY2016 Request

In Millions, Constant (2016) Dollars, Rounded

Source: Table 2.

NSF Obligations by Major Account

Table 3 provides NSF obligations by majo

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