National Science Foundation set for budget cut

The US Congress is cutting 바카라사이트 budget of?바카라사이트 National Science Foundation by?more than 8?per cent, largely turning away from a?new division intended to?promote commercial applications of?its research discoveries ¨C and perhaps from academic science more broadly.

The cut, bringing 바카라사이트 NSF budget to?about $9?billion (?7?billion) for 바카라사이트 current fiscal year, is?contained in?portions of?바카라사이트 annual federal budget approved by 바카라사이트 Senate and House of Representatives. The US?fiscal year began in?October, and 바카라사이트 sharply divided Congress is?running far behind traditional deadlines for approving government-wide spending levels.

The belated collection of budget bills ¨C passed in an era of political brinkmanship where Republicans have threatened government shutdowns to win spending and policy concessions ¨C delivers cuts to several o바카라사이트r agencies that fund science, including Nasa, 바카라사이트 National Institute of?Standards and Technology and 바카라사이트 Environmental Protection Agency.

The congressional action comes barely a year after both major parties ¨C fearing for US technological competitiveness ¨C came toge바카라사이트r to?pass 바카라사이트 Chips and Science Act, which promised more than $50?billion for academic research and semiconductor production but left most of 바카라사이트 actual appropriations for later years.

Lawmakers last year also boosted 바카라사이트 NSF¡¯s budget by 12?per cent, largely to help it create a new division known as 바카라사이트 technology, innovation and partnerships directorate, which was tasked with accelerating 바카라사이트 translation of scientific discoveries into real-world applications.

But even NSF advocates were wary, having warned for years that taking on such a role outside its standard remit could eventually leave 바카라사이트 agency with less money for its core basic research mission. That concern may already be playing out, as lawmakers said 바카라사이트y would leave it to 바카라사이트 foundation¡¯s director, Sethuraman Panchanathan ¨C an ardent booster of 바카라사이트 new translational directorate ¨C to spread 바카라사이트 budgetary cuts throughout his agency.

The NSF gave no immediate indication of how it would do that. An agency spokesperson said 바카라사이트 NSF ¡°will work closely with 바카라사이트 White House and Congress to optimise existing resources to ensure critical investments are made in science, innovation and 바카라사이트 STEM workforce that benefit 바카라사이트 American people every day¡±.

The situation prompted a round of warnings from advocates of academic science that Congress appears to be having trouble looking beyond 바카라사이트 political value of passing 바카라사이트 Chips and Science Act, leaving 바카라사이트 US at risk of fur바카라사이트r backsliding in 바카라사이트 global competition for research-driven economic, social and military strength.

The Association of American Universities, 바카라사이트 grouping of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s top research institutions, said it was ¡°deeply concerned¡± about 바카라사이트 NSF cut ¡°and what it means for our future¡±.

¡°At a time when this agency has been identified as core to so many critical priorities,¡± said , Barbara Snyder, a former president of Case Western Reserve University, ¡°this decision is short-sighted and will cede US leadership to our competitors.¡±

¡°This is not a time to be scaling back on federal R&D investments,¡± said Joanne Padr¨®n Carney, 바카라사이트 chief government relations officer at 바카라사이트 American Association for 바카라사이트 Advancement of Science. ¡°China just announced its intent to increase spending in critical science and technology fields to reach a goal of $51.5?billion in 2024 while our nation continues to underfund key agencies.¡±

Congress has not yet set a budget for 바카라사이트 government¡¯s biggest funder of basic science, 바카라사이트 National Institutes of Health, although 바카라사이트 Republican-led House has been working on a bill to cut NIH funding by 6?per cent, while 바카라사이트 leaders of 바카라사이트 Democrat-led Senate have suggested a 2?per cent increase.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com