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.
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