Year in Review: Science Policy Developments in 1992

Trying to characterize science policy developments in physics and astronomy in 1992 is difficult at best. Some projects continued to receive significant budget increases while other facilities were closed. Department and agency budgets had uneven growth. Despite the ups and downs in federal funding, new attention was given to scientific advances as a key component of a national economic strategy. Here are some of the major physics and astronomy policy developments in 1992:

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION:

The rising tide of money which NSF enjoyed in recent years seems to have crested, at least temporarily, for the fiscal year starting on October 1, 1992. Although the budget grew by 6.3% over the previous year, spending for Research and Related Activities was cut by $13 million. Astronomical sciences and physics budgets declined by 7.9% and 7.2%, respectively. The geosciences budget declined by a minimal amount, while materials research funding grew by 4.9%. Education and Human Resources money increased by 6.3%. LIGO funding in 1993 is tentatively set at $43 million (subject to further review), with observatories to be located in Washington and Louisiana. Gemini 8-meter telescope funding for 1993 is $14 million, subject to conditions and further evaluation.

Last fall, a blue-ribbon commission on the future of the agency concluded that NSF should largely hold to its present course while exploring opportunities for increased attention to national economic goals. It remains to be seen how the agency will deal with calls on Capitol Hill for it to expand its portfolio of activities.

President-elect Clinton has pledged to maintain the agency’s budget to at least allow for inflation. He indicated the over-all budget situation will have to improve before additional money is requested. Details on Clinton’s fiscal year 1994 budget request (for all departments and agencies) are not expected before mid-March.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY:

Reflecting the changing international environment, DOE Secretary James Watkins declared early in 1992 that “DOE is migrating to more plowshares than swords.” Both Congress and the Bush Administration explored new roles for the national laboratories, an issue which will receive increased attention in 1993.

After surviving an attempt by the House of Representatives to kill the Superconducting Super Collider, the project’s budget grew from $484 million to $517 million, considerably less than the $650 million request. A sense of some uneasiness still characterizes the project’s future, both nationally and internationally, although President-elect Clinton supports the SSC.

DOE magnetic fusion funding was stable, with most efforts now focused on ITER. Several facilities were closed, or are closing. Nuclear physics funding declined from $354 to $309 million, with facilities scheduled for closure. High energy physics funding declined from $628 million to $613 million, providing only half of the administration’s $30 million request for the Fermilab Main Injector upgrade.

NASA:

1992 was an eventful year for NASA. The space agency weathered a change of administrator, prevailed in a congressional battle to kill the Space Station, endured negative real growth in its fiscal year 1993 budget and, most recently, underwent dramatic organizational changes.

Budget caps on discretionary programs gave lawmakers very little leeway in the fiscal 1993 appropriations process. NASA’s fiscal 1993 budget of $14.3 billion was essentially frozen at the fiscal 1992 level. Space Station Freedom also received funding at the 1992 level of $2.1 billion. Space science program CRAF was canceled, while NASA was forced to continue the congressionally popular ASRM at $360 million. Admiral Richard Truly was replaced as administrator by TRW Vice President Daniel Goldin, whose emphasis on smaller, cheaper, faster missions was well-received on Capitol Hill.

NASA survived an amendment in the House by VA/HUD appropriations chairman Bob Traxler (D-Michigan) to terminate the Space Station, and a similar amendment in the Senate by Dale Bumpers (D-Arkansas). Traxler, an outspoken Space Station foe, retired from Congress at the end of 1992. Cancellation of the Space Station is expected to be less of a priority for his successor, Louis Stokes (D-Ohio).

In October, new administrator Goldin asserted his leadership after six months as agency head by reshuffling the organization and splitting up the Office of Space Science and Applications into two parts. Whether Goldin’s actions win him favor with the Clinton Administration remains to be seen.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:

University overhead rates continued to come under review, with final regulations nearing completion.... “We have stopped being your enemy,” declared a senior Russian official, with the U.S. government (as well as AIP and its some of its Member Societies) responding with cooperative assistance programs.... Pork barrel politics heated up last year: President Bush’s proposed rescissions were met by Senator Robert Byrd’s (D-West Virginia) proposal to delete funding for 31 NSF grants. The still unresolved issue carried over to the final passage of the DOE and DOD appropriations bills.... Proposed government regulations barring participation by federal employees in professional society activities were withdrawn (and not likely to resurface for a long time)... DOD requested FY 1993 SDI funding of $5.48 billion; $3.8 billion was approved.... Key players affecting science policy changed as a result of the November election, with Senator Al Gore soon to change his address on Pennsylvania Avenue.