The White House’s fiscal 2025 budget request represents a useful benchmark as Congress continues to work through its appropriations process, which this year is likely to carry into the lame-duck session toward the end of the year.
This analysis highlights the current administration’s ongoing commitment to funding the science and technology advancements that are critical to our national security, economy and way of life. From investing in clean energy and health to driving innovations in artificial intelligence, the request aims to ensure the U.S. maintains its position as a global leader in science and technology.
Among many science-related provisions, the budget request proposes funding to advance the administration’s Cancer Moonshot goals, invest in women’s health and research, build a stronger and more diverse STEM workforce and make progress toward climate goals. However, the request is subject to spending caps under the Fiscal Responsibility Act, and it comes in below the levels Congress authorized in the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act — showing there’s more work to be done.
Investing in the scientific and technological innovations of the future is more critical now than ever. China recently announced a 10% increase in spending on science and technology and remains committed to surpassing the U.S. as a global innovation leader. To remain competitive, it’s urgent that the White House and Congress work together to increase funding for science and technology programs.
As Congress works through its appropriations bills in the coming months, here’s a look at where things stand:
Estimated R&D totals
By the numbers: Overall, the request calls for $203.7 billion in R&D funding in FY25, a 1.7% increase, with nondefense R&D receiving a 12.7% boost to $102.6 billion.
What’s included: Basic research, which received an 11% increase in FY23, and a 5.9% cut in FY24 would receive a 7.3% increase to $47.7 billion in FY25. Applied research, on the other hand, would remain nearly flat.
The bottom line: The FY25 request is the lowest proposed increase in R&D from the current administration.
NIH
By the numbers: The request includes $49.8 billion for NIH in FY25, a 2.3% increase over the previous year.
What’s included: The National Cancer Institute (NCI) would receive an 8.5% increase to a total of $7.8 billion with the aim of making progress on the administration’s Cancer Moonshot goal. Funding for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health (ARPA-H) would remain flat, while the National Institute of Mental Health would receive a 10.1% increase to $2.5 billion. The administration is also launching the first-ever White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research, doubling existing funding for the Office of Research on Women’s Health at NIH to $153.9 million for FY 2025.
The bottom line: Funding for the bulk of NIH’s 27 institutes and centers would remain at or near current levels.
NSF
By the numbers: The administration requested $10.2 billion for FY25, a 12.3% hike over the previous year.
What’s included: The Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) directorate would receive a 25% increase over FY23, the last TIP number available, to expand emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum information science. The request also includes $1.3 billion — a 10.9% increase from last year — for STEM education and workforce development programs at NSF with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, supporting the CHIPS and Science Act goal of creating a diverse STEM workforce.
The bottom line: While the increase in funding for STEM education and workforce is higher than FY24, it’s still lower than FY23 levels.
NIST
By the numbers: The budget request includes $1.5 billion, a 2.8% increase from the previous year.
What’s included: NIST’s laboratory programs would see a 9.5% decrease in funding to $977 million, while funding for Industrial Technology Services would remain about the same at $212 million.
The bottom line: The agency would see a modest increase overall.
DOE Office of Science
By the numbers: The request calls for $8.6 billion for FY25, a 4.2% increase.
What’s included: Within the Office of Science, DOE’s efforts to invest in Advanced Science Computing Resources to improve climate modeling and clean energy advancements would increase by 13.5% to $1.2 billion. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) would see an overall decrease of nearly 10% to $3.1 billion, though wind energy funding would see a significant 45.3% increase to $199 million. Meanwhile, the agency’s separate ARPA-E program would receive a 2.2% decrease to $450 million.
The bottom line: Overall, the department would see a mix of increases at the rate of inflation, along with some proposed cuts.
NASA
By the numbers: The request includes $25.4 billion for FY25, a 2% increase.
What’s included: The Science Mission Directorate would receive an overall 3.2% increase to $7.6 billion, with $2.4 billion of that going toward NASA’s earth science division, an 8.4% increase. Aeronautics Research, meanwhile, would receive a 3.3% increase to $966 million.
The bottom line: Most of the agency’s programs would receive increases under the budget request.
As the U.S. faces increased national security threats and heightened global competition, it’s more critical than ever that we remain a global innovation leader and invest in the science and technology advancements to meet the needs of today — and tomorrow.
While increasing research and investments in women’s health, clean energy, and the STEM workforce are promising starts, Congress should aim higher and appropriate the full funding it authorized in the landmark CHIPS and Science Act.
The U.S. has made too much progress to risk a setback. Lawmakers must secure funding so that our critical science and technology agencies can continue making strides in the innovations that shape the lives of all Americans.