WASHINGTON – The Science Coalition (TSC) released the following statement after the Trump administration released its annual budget request, effectively starting the budget process for fiscal year (FY) 2020:

“Congress and the administration have until October 1 to agree on a budget deal to avoid an estimated $5.1 billion in post-sequestration cuts to federal science agencies. The sooner they reach a deal to lift the budget caps, the better it is for these agencies and their employees, as well as America’s research universities. Funding predictability for scientists, researchers, and students is paramount to the efficacy of our nation’s scientific ecosystem.

“Investment in scientific research is essential to a strong economy and America’s standing as a global leader in innovation. Failure to reach an agreement or waiting until the last minute could have serious implications for scientific innovations and life-changing technologies. We urge policymakers to lift the budget caps and prioritize investment in America’s federal science agencies in FY20 and beyond.”

A 9 percent post-sequester cut for non-defense discretionary spending and an 11 percent cut for defense basic research spending (not adjusting for inflation) would account for the following cuts to these federal agencies, totaling more than $5.1 billion:

• Department of Energy, Office of Science: $593 million
• Department of Defense, Basic Research: $278 million
• National Institutes of Health: $3.5 billion
• National Science Foundation: $726 million

A recent nationwide poll conducted by The Science Coalition found that the American public overwhelmingly supports federal investment in fundamental research and a majority of voters believe scientific investment should increase.

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About the Science Coalition

Established in 1994, the Science Coalition is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of more than 50 of the nation’s leading public and private research universities. It is dedicated to sustaining the federal government’s investment in basic scientific research as a means to stimulate the economy, spur innovation, and drive America’s global competitiveness.