The Congressional Research Service (CRS) recently released a report outlining the President’s proposed federal investments in research and development for fiscal year (FY) 2014. Under the President’s FY 2014 request, $142.773 billion is allotted for federal research and development, a $1.861 billion (1.3%) increase from the FY 2012 actual spending levels. Of that $142.773 billion, the report finds that funding for R&D was highly concentrated amongst 7 federal agencies that account for more than 70% of all federal R&D funding: most notably the Department of Defense (47.8%) and the Department of Health and Human Services (22.4%).

The report notes that the President has requested $760.5 million for R&D at the US Geological Survey for FY 2014, an increase of $87.7 million over FY 2012 actual spending. The President’s request also included increases in funding for R&D at the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

Congress is considering lower levels of funding than the President’s request but has not yet passed any budget bills for FY 2014.

Sources: The Congressional Research Service, the Federation of American Scientists, the White House