In Brief
President’s Budget Outlines Strong Investments in Science
With the release of the President’s Budget at the beginning of April, the negotiations and maneuverings have begun for fiscal year (FY) 2023. President Biden’s budget proposes spending for basic and applied research of $111 billion, an increase of $25 billion (29%) over FY21 spending levels, and over $100 billion for the first time – and total spending for R&D of $205 billion, an increase of $45 billion over FY21 (28%), and over $200 billion for the first time. The White House budget also proposes mandatory funding proposals—totaling $88.2 billion available over five years—at HHS, the Department of State, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to address the Nation’s preparedness for both the current COVID-19 pandemic and future threats. These proposals bolster pandemic preparedness across HHS public health agencies, and include several key investments in R&D.
For FY23, the White House has set a request for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at $48,957 billion, an increase of +7% over FY22. The newly created ARPA-H, housed within NIH, received a request of $5 billion, a +400% increase over FY22. The President budgeted $10,492 billion, a +19% increase, for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and $7,779 billion, a +4% increase, for the Department of Energy Office of Science.
Let the FY23 Appropriations Games Begin
Senators Richard Shelby (R-AL) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) alongside Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Kay Granger (R-TX) are set to begin negotiations on topline spending this week so appropriations subcommittees can begin working on their draft spending bills. The House of Representatives has already tentatively scheduled subcommittee markups to be held the week of June 13, with full committee marks the week of June 22. However, with a short legislative year ahead of us, it will require significant pressure from BPS, its members, and our coalition partners to ensure that the budget doesn’t fall victim to partisan and election politics.
NIH Launches New Scientific Data Sharing Website
Earlier this month the National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched their new scientific data sharing website. The new site will help users navigate NIH data management and sharing policies that increase the transparency and availability of scientific data and resources - including clinical trials and public access policies. A two-part webinar series on the NIH data management and sharing policy will be held this summer to walk the community through the details of the new policies and answer any questions.
OSTP Announces Year of Evidence for Action
On April 7, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) co-hosted an inaugural White House Summit on Evidence for Action to share leading practices from federal agencies to generate and use research evidence to advance better, more equitable outcomes for all of America; build and institutionalize a culture of evidence-based policymaking inside the federal government; and create new and enhanced pathways for connection and collaboration between the evidence communities inside and outside of the government. The goal of the Year of Evidence for Action is to use the insights of research to expose and address disparities — in health and wealth, in infrastructure and education — and improve lives across America.