May 1, 2017

On May 1, Congress agreed to advance an omnibus appropriations bill for the current fiscal year (FY) 2017, which will fund the government through September 30, 2017. The omnibus designates funding levels for the 11 remaining annual appropriations bills which have not yet been enacted, and provides additional policy guidance for key national priorities.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 (H.R.244) funds most science agencies slightly above or near the same level of the enacted amounts received for FY 2016. The bill includes funding for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) at $1.085 billion, an increase of 2.2% from the FY 2016 enacted level. It funds the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) at $19.7 billion, an increase of 1.9% over the FY 2016 enacted level, and the National Science Foundation (NSF) at $7.47 billion, a slight increase of 0.1% over the FY 2016 enacted level. The bill also funds the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at $5.68 billion, which is a 1.6% decrease from the FY 2016 enacted level.

Overall, most science agencies received relatively flat funding in the FY 2017 omnibus bill, although multiple programs and mission areas within the science agencies received small cuts. For example, the USGS Energy, Minerals, and Environment Mission Area received a 0.2% decrease, and the NASA Education Program received a 13% decrease from the FY 2016 enacted levels. There are increases to 3DEP, Alaska mapping, and Chesapeake Bay landscape level assessments.

For a more detailed analysis, please visit AGI’s Overview of Fiscal Year 2017 Appropriations.

Sources: U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations; Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies; Subcommittee on Energy and Water; Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies