The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) R&D Budget and Policy Program has issued a report, Federal Research Funding Flat in 2009 as Federal Budget Stalls, analyzing the current status of research and development funding in the fiscal year 2009 federal budget as of September 30.
The 2009 federal fiscal year began on October 1, but Congress is preparing to break without finishing the budget. To allow federal agencies without 2009 budget appropriations to continue spending, Congress passed a continuing resolution that would allow spending at or below 2008 funding levels through March 6, 2009. The continuing resolution included appropriations for only three agencies: the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs. These three agencies received substantial increases in R&D.
Agencies in the other nine unsigned appropriations bills will be operating temporarily at or below 2008 funding for several months. This includes the National Institutes of Health and other Department of Health and Human Services agencies, National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, NASA, Department of Commerce, USDA, Department of Interior, and Department of Transportation.
A detailed summary of the overall budget outlook for FY 2009 as well as in-depth analysis for each agency is available on the AAAS R&D Budget and Policy Program web site.
