In times of economic distress, all discretionary spending is subject to scrutiny, especially funding for basic and applied science research. In the midst of an intensely restrictive fiscal environment within Congress, the Obama administration is working to change this pattern. President Obama’s 2012 fiscal year (FY) budget request, released last month, puts forth an ambitious plan for federal research and development (R&D), in line with the president’s goal of doubling the money put toward several important federal science agencies and increasing the total national expenditure on R&D (including public and private sources) to above 3 percent of the gross domestic product. Now scientists need to step up and become “Civic Scientists,” engaging the public and policymakers to support Obama’s effort to increase U.S. R&D so it can come to fruition.
President Obama’s proposed budget emphasizes energy research, increasing the Department of Energy’s (DOE) budget by nearly 12 percent to $29.5 billion, including a 9.1 percent increase to the DOE’s Office of Science. The plan also includes a bold 13 percent spending increase for the National Science Foundation (NSF) as well as a boost of 16.1 percent to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). In total, the government would budget $66.8 billion for federal R&D, equivalent to a 6 percent increase.
Passing and implementing Obama’s FY2012 budget in its entirety would be a resounding success for U.S. science and technology and would put the country back on equal footing with an increasingly competitive global research environment. Unfortunately, this bill will most likely suffer large cutbacks on its way through Congress akin to the yet unresolved FY2011 appropriations bill. The FY2011 budget, still under review after a series of continuing resolutions, has faced a contentious partisan debate in the House and Senate and currently threatens to shutdown government operations. The proposed cuts to Obama’s FY2011 reach more than 15 percent for several science agencies, including an 18 percent reduction to the original plan for DOE. If passed, these cutbacks could force certain science offices to close operations for part of the year. Furthermore, they would leave little hope for the inclusion of all of Obama’s proposed increased expenditures for federal R&D programs.
The ongoing struggle to arrive at an agreeable solution for the FY2011 budget is indicative of the extreme partisan divide which unfortunately can impede the progress of science policy at the federal level, although science is traditionally a nonpartisan issue. But science-related issues can at times incite conflict between Democrats and Republicans, especially if they involve ideological, political or moral concerns. In order to maintain objectivity in these debates, scientists are needed on Capitol Hill to engage politicians in active discussions about the key issues facing U.S. science and technology. These Civic Scientists, who are willing to step up and actively engage and educate the public and lawmakers, are integral to the success of the American scientific community. Their involvement in policy can help stop crucial R&D programs from collapsing due to cuts by Congress.
President Obama has placed a firm emphasis on basic and applied science during his tenure thus far as president. Scientists need to follow his lead in reigniting U.S. science and technology by supporting his administration’s bold efforts to sharply increase federal R&D spending, even during times of tight budgetary restrictions.
Kenneth Evans is a graduate intern for the Baker Institute Science and Technology Policy Program. He is working toward a Ph.D. in applied physics under Professor Douglas Natelson. Kirstin Matthews, Ph.D., is a fellow in science and technology policy at the Baker Institute. Her research focuses on the intersection between traditional biomedical research and public policy.