FY 1998 Dept. Of Defense Budget Request: Basic and Applied Research

FYI is expanding its coverage to include the Department of Defense’s basic research and applied research budget requests, and subsequent congressional activity. Including other spending, such as development, equipment, and facilities, DOD provides the largest amount of federal R&D funding.

Determining how much of DOD’s investment in basic and applied research is physics-related is difficult. Physics research is supported in many different programs. Congressional appropriations bills do not identify specific areas of physics-related spending. Thus, FYI will track total funding requests for the entire Department of Defense in two categories of spending: 6.1, Basic Research; and 6.2, Applied Research.

Indications of the Clinton Administration’s approach to defense spending, and its budget priorities, was indicated earlier this month by John H. Gibbons, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology:

“We are emphasizing investments which sustain our military defense capabilities, prevent conflict before it occurs, and address other global threats to the well-being of our nation. The budget maintains our long-term investment in the science and technology base and our commitment to advancing our defense capabilities efficiently and cost-effectively. We are requesting a 5% increase in defense-related fundamental research, which include an 8% increase in the basic research budget of the Department of Defense to $1.16 billion. We are also continuing our support of defense R&D which also leverages innovation in the commercial sector through the Dual-Use Applications Program [$225 million].... We are maintaining our priority for investments that will help to control the spread of nuclear weapons and the materials used to make them....”

As Gibbons stated, DOD is requesting a budget increase of $83.88 million, or 7.8%, in Basic Research (6.1) funding to $1.16 billion. Current year spending is $1.08 billion; FY 1996 spending was $1.10 billion.

DOD’s request for Applied Research (6.2) declines by $58.99 million, or -2.1%, to $2.81 billion. Current year spending is $2.87 billion; FY 1996 spending was $2.84 billion.

Budget materials prepared by DOD put this request in historical context. An exhibit entitled “Department of Defense Technology Base (6.1 + 6.2)” indicates that if Congress approves its latest request, the “DOD Tech Base [will be] at [an] 18 Year Low” when calculated in constant FY 1997 dollars. Spending at the end of the Cold War, at the start of defense downsizing in 1989, was $4.289 billion. Spending in FY 1998 would decline to $3.920 billion.

An accompanying breakdown exhibit entitled “Services Technology Base (6.1+6.2)” concludes that if Congress approves the FY 1998 request, the result will be “Services Tech Base [will be] at >35 Year Low” when calculated in constant FY 1997 dollars. Spending was $2.837 billion in FY 1989; FY 1998 spending would be $2.303 billion.

The Department of Energy also has major responsibility for defense functions. Of note is DOE’s $1.4 billion research and development request for Stockpile Stewardship activities, plus an additional $1.3 billion for related construction projects. Among these projects is the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, for which $900 million is requested.