Federal budget authority for R&D in 2014 rises slightly

New data indicate that in fiscal year (FY) 2014, Congress gave federal agencies authority to spend $3.2 billion more on research and development and R&D plant (together) than in FY 2013. However, the increase only partially offset successive declines experienced in previous fiscal years.

According to a report just released by the National Science Foundation's (NSF) National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, preliminary data for FY 2014 shows a 2.4 percent increase in federal budget authority for R&D and R&D plant, totaling an estimated $135.7 billion in current-year dollars.

The increase, to a degree, counterbalances cuts in federal budget authority for R&D and R&D plant, which were down $4.6 billion in FY 2011; down $0.6 billion in FY 2012 and down $11.3 billion in FY 2013.

Funding cuts have fallen much more heavily on national defense than on nondefense budget functions. Preliminary estimates show that in FY 2014, federal agencies had authority to spend $70.7 billion on defense related R&D, which was down from a high of $86.8 billion in FY 2010.

See more from this report: Federal Budget Authority for R&D in FY 2014 Rises Slightly Above the FY 2013 Level; Extent of Increase in FY 2015 Uncertain.