# The National Science Foundation: FY2017 Appropriations and Funding History

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URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/crs%3AR44679

## Record

- **Collection:** Congressional research report
- **Document type:** CRS Report
- **Published:** May 17, 2017
- **Citation:** R44679

## Text

The National Science Foundation: FY2017
Appropriations and Funding History
(name redacted)
Analyst in Science and Technology Policy
(name redacted)
Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
May 17, 2017

Congressional Research Service
7-....
www.crs.gov
R44679

The National Science Foundation: FY2017 Appropriations and Funding History

Summary
The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports both basic research and education in the nonmedical sciences and engineering. NSF is a major source of federal support for U.S. university
research, especially in certain fields such as mathematics and computer science. It is also
responsible for significant shares of the federal science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) education program portfolio and federal STEM student aid and support.
Overall, the Obama Administration sought $7.964 billion for NSF in FY2017, a $501 million
(6.7%) increase over the FY2016 estimate of $7.463 billion. This request included $7.564 billion
in discretionary budget authority and $400 million in new one-time mandatory budget authority.
NSF has six major appropriations accounts: Research and Related Activities (RRA), Education
and Human Resources (EHR), Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC),
Agency Operations and Award Management (AOAM), National Science Board (NSB), and
Office of Inspector General (OIG). The FY2017 request would have increased total budget
authority in three accounts relative to the FY2016 estimate: RRA by $392 million (6.5%), EHR
by $73 million (8.3%), and AOAM by $43 million (13%). The request would have provided NSB
and OIG with about the same amount as in FY2016 and decreased MREFC account funding by
$7 million (3.6%). The new mandatory budget funding request was split between two accounts—
RRA ($346 million) and EHR ($54 million). Mandatory funding is not usually part of NSF’s
budget request for major accounts.
As reported by the Senate, S. 2837 would have provided a total of $7.510 billion to NSF for
FY2017. This amount is $46 million (0.6%) above the FY2016 estimated funding level, $54
million (0.7%) below the FY2017 discretionary funding request, and $454 million (5.7%) below
the request including new mandatory funding. The bill would have kept funding for the major
accounts nearly the same as the FY2016 estimate, except for MREFC, which would have
increased by $46 million (23%).
As reported by the House, H.R. 5393 would have provided a total of $7.406 billion to NSF for
FY2017. This amount is $57 million (0.8%) below the FY2016 estimated funding level, $158
million (2.1%) below the President’s FY2017 discretionary funding request, and $558 million
(7.5%) below the request including new mandatory funding. The bill would have kept funding for
the EHR, NSB, and OIG accounts nearly the same as in the FY2016 estimate, increased the RRA
and AOAM accounts by $46 million (0.8%) and $10 million (3%), respectively, and decreased
the MREFC account by $113 million (57%).
A series of continuing appropriations acts (P.L. 114-223, P.L. 114-254, P.L. 115-30) provided
funding for NSF from October 1, 2016, through May 5, 2017, at 99.5-99.8% of the FY2016
funding level. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31), signed by the President
on May 5, 2017, provides $7.472 billion in discretionary funding to NSF, which is 0.1% above
the FY2016 enacted amount.
Overall growth in the NSF budget slowed after FY2003. Median annual growth in NSF funding
was 9% between FY1953 and FY2003 and 3% between FY2004 and FY2016. Most of NSF’s
funding supports scientific and technological research. Further, the portion of NSF spending that
goes to research increased over the past decade. Within the NSF total, RRA has accounted for the
lion’s share of growth in obligations since FY2003. Agency appropriations levels were last
authorized in FY2010 and expired in FY2013; various reauthorization measures were introduced
in the 114th Congress that included proposed funding levels for FY2017.

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The National Science Foundation: FY2017 Appropriations and Funding History

Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
FY2017 Budget and Appropriations Actions .................................................................................. 1
Research and Related Activities (RRA) .................................................................................... 5
Education and Human Resources (EHR) .................................................................................. 7
Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) .......................................... 8
Other Accounts and Initiatives .................................................................................................. 9
Authorizations of Appropriations .................................................................................................. 10
NSF Funding History .................................................................................................................... 12
Long-term Funding Trends ..................................................................................................... 12
NSF Obligations by Major Account ........................................................................................ 16
Policy Implications ........................................................................................................................ 17

Figures
Figure 1. Current Dollar NSF Authorizations, Budget Requests, and Appropriations:
FY1951 to FY2017..................................................................................................................... 15
Figure 2. Constant Dollar NSF Authorizations, Budget Requests, and Appropriations:
FY1951 to FY2017..................................................................................................................... 15

Tables
Table 1. NSF Funding by Major Account, FY2015-FY2017 .......................................................... 4
Table 2. NSF Funding by RRA Subaccount, FY2015-FY2017....................................................... 6
Table 3. NSF Appropriation Authorizations Under Selected, Proposed Reauthorization
Acts ............................................................................................................................................. 11
Table 4. NSF Authorizations, Budget Requests, and Appropriations: FY1951-FY2017 .............. 12
Table 5. NSF Obligations by Major Account, FY2003-FY2017 ................................................... 16

Contacts
Author Contact Information .......................................................................................................... 17

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The National Science Foundation: FY2017 Appropriations and Funding History

Introduction
The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports both basic research and education in the nonmedical sciences and engineering. Congress established the foundation through the National
Science Foundation Act of 1950 to “promote the progress of science; to advance the national
health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense; and for other purposes.” The NSF
is a major source of federal support for U.S. university research, especially in certain fields such
as mathematics. It is also responsible for significant shares of the federal science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education program portfolio and federal STEM student
aid and support.
This report describes selected items from the Obama Administration’s FY2017 budget request for
NSF and tracks legislative action on FY2017 appropriations to the foundation. It also details
selected authorizations of NSF appropriations proposed in the 114th Congress, summarizes budget
and appropriations action from FY2015 and FY2016, and presents information on historical
funding for the foundation.
NSF has six major appropriations accounts: Research and Related Activities (RRA), Education
and Human Resources (EHR), Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC),
Agency Operations and Award Management (AOAM), National Science Board (NSB), and the
Office of the Inspector General (OIG). At times, authorizations and appropriations have been
specified at the RRA subaccount level, and NSF’s budget justifications detail activities and
obligations at that level. The majority of NSF’s primary mission activities are funded through
RRA, EHR, and MREFC. NSF adopted its current appropriations account structure in FY2003. In
general, NSF’s major accounts have been comparable since then.1
Appropriations to NSF are typically included in annual Commerce, Justice, Science and Related
Agencies Appropriations Acts. (The Congressional Research Service tracks these acts on
CRS.gov, at http://www.crs.gov/AppropriationsStatusTable/index.) NSF’s budget justifications
are published on the agency’s website at http://www.nsf.gov/about/budget/.

FY2017 Budget and Appropriations Actions
The Obama Administration sought $7.964 billion for NSF in FY2017, a $501 million (6.7%)
increase over the FY2016 estimate of $7.463 billion (see Table 1). This request included $7.564
billion in discretionary budget authority and $400 million in new one-time mandatory budget
authority (excluding new mandatory funding, the total NSF request was $101 million (1.3%)
greater than the FY2016 appropriation).
The request would have increased budget authority in three accounts relative to the FY2016
estimate: RRA by $392 million (6.5%), EHR by $73 million (8.3%), and AOAM by $43 million
(13%). The NSB and OIG accounts would have received about the same amount as in FY2016.
Funding for the MREFC account would have decreased by $7 million (3.6%). The requested
mandatory budget funding would have been split between two accounts—$346 million for RRA
and $54 million for EHR. It is not typical for NSF to request or receive mandatory funding for
major accounts.2
1

In FY2008, NSF shifted the EPSCoR program from the Education and Human Resources (EHR) account to the
Research and Related Activities (RRA) account.
2
NSF receives a small amount of mandatory funding from H-1B Nonimmigrant Petitioner Fees (40% of total H-1B
(continued...)

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The National Science Foundation: FY2017 Appropriations and Funding History

As reported by the Senate Committee on Appropriations on April 21, 2016, S. 2837, the
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017, would have
provided a total of $7.510 billion to NSF for FY2017. This amount would have been $46 million
(0.6%) above the FY2016 estimated funding level, $54 million (0.7%) below President Obama’s
FY2017 discretionary funding request, and $454 million (5.7%) below the request including new
mandatory funding. This bill would have kept funding for each of the major accounts at nearly
the same level as the FY2016 estimate, except for the MREFC account, which would have
increased by $46 million (23%).3
As reported by the House Committee on Appropriations on June 6, 2016, H.R. 5393, the
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017, would have
provided a total of $7.406 billion to NSF for FY2017. This amount would have been $57 million
(0.8%) below the FY2016 estimated funding level, $158 million (2.1%) below President Obama’s
FY2017 discretionary funding request, and $558 million (7.5%) below the request including new
mandatory funding. The bill would have kept funding for the EHR, NSB, and OIG accounts
nearly the same as the FY2016 estimate, increased the RRA and AOAM accounts by $46 million
(0.8%) and $10 million (3%), respectively, and decreased the MREFC account by $113 million
(57%).4
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31), signed by the President on May 5,
2017, provides $7.472 billion in discretionary funding to NSF, 0.1% above the FY2016 enacted
amount. The Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 114254), provided funding at about 99.8% of the FY2016 funding level for the NSF through April
28, 2017.5 The Continuing Appropriations and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 114-223), provided funding for the NSF from
October 1, 2016 through December 9, 2016, at the FY2016 funding rate subject to a 0.496%
across-the-board decrease.6
The FY2017 NSF budget justification highlighted many of the same programs as in FY2016.
Specifically, the document identified two areas of major emphasis, four cross-foundation
investments, and six on-going NSF-wide priorities. The two areas of major emphasis—a new
classification in the FY2017 budget document—are Clean Energy Research and Development
(R&D) and strengthening support for core activities:


The FY2017 request would have increased funding across multiple offices and
RRA directorates for Clean Energy R&D by $141 million to $512 million total, a

(...continued)
receipts collected, as authorized by P.L. 105-277 and P.L. 108-447). These H-1B fees are used for two programs: the
low-income scholarship program, Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM); and the Innovative Technology Experiences for
Students and Teachers (ITEST) program. FY2017 fees for NSF from the H-1B account are projected to be $100
million, equal to the FY2016 estimate. See NSF’s FY2017 budget justification, p. EHR-21, for more information.
3
U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2017, report to accompany S. 2837, 114th Cong., 2nd sess., April 21, 2016, S.Rept. 114239 (Washington: GPO, 2016), p. 116.
4
U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Bill, 2017, report to accompany H.R. 5393, 114th Cong., 2nd sess., June 7, 2016, H.Rept. 114-605
(Washington: GPO, 2016), pp. 54-71.
5
For more information on P.L. 114-254, see CRS Report R44723, Overview of Further Continuing Appropriations for
FY2017 (H.R. 2028), coordinated by (name redacted) .
6
House Joint Resolution 99 (P.L. 115-30) amended P.L. 114-223 to provide continuing FY2017 appropriations for
NSF from April 28, 2017, through May 5, 2017.

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

37.9% increase. Clean Energy R&D appears to have broadly included Clean
Energy Technology, listed as one of the cross-foundation investments in FY2016.
Strengthening support for core activities would have been funded by the new
mandatory budget authority request of $400 million to support “fundamental,
curiosity-driven research,” with a focus on supporting early-career investigators.
The budget justification reported that the mandatory funding would have allowed
for an estimated 800 additional research grants to be funded.

The foundation’s four cross-foundation investments aim to bring researchers from different fields
of science and engineering together to address cross-disciplinary questions. As in FY2016, these
activities included the following:





Understanding the Brain (UtB, $142 million requested, 3.6% decrease from
FY2016 estimate);
Risk and Resilience ($43 million requested, 4.9% increase);
Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water Systems (INFEWS, $62
million requested, 27.7% increase); and
NSF Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of
Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (NSF INCLUDES,
$16 million requested, 3.2% increase).

NSF identified six ongoing foundation-wide priorities for FY2017. These included the following:







Cyber-Enabled Materials, Manufacturing, and Smart Systems (CEMMSS, $257
million requested, 0.3% increase over the FY2016 estimate);
Cyberinfrastructure Framework for 21st Century Science, Engineering, and
Education (CIF21, $100 million requested, 24.4% decrease);
Innovation Corps (I-Corps, $30 million requested, no change);
Research at the Interface of Biological, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences
(BioMaPS, $30 million requested, 4.8% decrease);
Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability (SEES, $52 million
requested, 29.8% decrease); and
Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC, $150 million requested, 15.4%
increase).

The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program was no longer included in the foundation-wide
priorities list, though NRT was noted as a crosscutting program with funding from the RRA and
EHR accounts. The overall FY2017 request for NRT was $58.6 million, an 8.3% increase from
the FY2016 estimate (including a 9.4% decrease in requested funding through RRA and a 21.4%
increase through EHR); this remained lower than the $74.4 million in enacted funding level for
NRT in FY2015. For another widely tracked crosscutting program, the Graduate Research
Fellowship (GRF), the FY2017 request was about the same as the FY2016 estimate ($332
million).
The report to accompany S. 2837, S.Rept. 114-239 (referred to as the “Senate report” in this
section), specifically addressed one of these NSF-wide funding priorities, stating “The Committee
supports the NSF’s request for the Innovation Corps [I–Corps] program ...” The report to
accompany H.R. 5393, H.Rept. 114-605 (referred to as the “House report” in this section),
recommended $5 million above the requested level for I-Corps “to enable greater participation

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nationally.” The explanatory statement accompanying P.L. 115-31 directs NSF to provide the
requested level of $30 million for I-Corps.7
Broadly, both reports expressed support for programs that focus on such things as cybersecurity
and broadening participation in STEM fields from underrepresented populations. As reported,
neither S. 2837 nor H.R. 5393 would have included the $400 million in new mandatory funding
requested to strengthen support for core services. The requested mandatory funding is not
included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017.
Table 1. NSF Funding by Major Account, FY2015-FY2017
(budget authority in millions of dollars)
FY2017

Request

House
CommitteeReported

Senate
CommitteeReported

Enacted

6033.7

6425.4

6079.4

6033.6

6033.7

6041.6

6033.7

6079.4

6079.4

6033.6

6033.7

0

0

346.0

0

0

886.3

880.0

952.9

880.0

880.0

880.0

Discretionary

886.3

880.0

898.9

880.0

880.0

880.0

Mandatory

0

0

54.0

0

0

0

Major Research
Equipment and Facilities
Construction (MREFC)

144.8

200.3

193.1

87.1

246.6

209.0

Agency Operations and
Award Management
(AOAM)

306.6

330.0

373.0

340.0

330.0

330.0

National Science Board
(NSB)

4.2

4.4

4.4

4.4

4.4

4.4

Office of the Inspector
General (OIG)

14.6

15.2

15.2

15.2

15.2

15.2

7398.0

7463.5

7964.0

7406.1

7509.8

7472.2

Discretionary

7398.0

7463.5

7564.0

7406.1

7509.8

7472.2

Mandatory

0

0

400.0

0

0

0

FY2015
Actual

FY2016
Estimate

6041.6

Discretionary
Mandatory

Account
Research and Related
Activities (RRA)

Education and Human
Resources (EHR)

NSF, Total

0

Source: FY2017 NSF Budget Request to Congress; H.R. 5393 as reported by the House Committee on
Appropriations, and H.Rept. 114-605; S. 2837, as reported by the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and
S.Rept. 114-239; and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31).
Notes: The term “n/s” means “not specified.” Totals may not add due to rounding.

7

Explanatory Statement, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, Division B (Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017), Congressional Record, vol. 163, no. 76—Book II (May 3, 2017), p. H3375.

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Research and Related Activities (RRA)
The Obama Administration sought a $392 million (6.5%) increase in funding for RRA in
FY2017, for a total of $6.425 billion. Of this amount, $6.079 billion was requested as
discretionary funding and $346 million was requested as new mandatory budget authority. As
reported by the Senate Committee on Appropriations, S. 2837 would have provided $6.034 billion
in discretionary funding, keeping RRA funding at the same level as in FY2016. As reported by
the House Committee on Appropriations, H.R. 5393 would have provided $6.079 billion in
discretionary funding, which was the same as the level of requested discretionary funding and
represents a $45.8 million increase over FY2016. Neither bill would have provided mandatory
funding. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31), provides $6.034 billion for
RRA, equal to the FY2016 estimate.
The FY2017 budget request sought increases for all of the RRA subaccounts except for the U.S.
Arctic Research Commission (USARC), which would not have changed (see Table 2). The
largest percentage increase would have gone to Engineering (ENG, 9.4%). The largest increase in
dollars would have gone to Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS, $87.3 million). Other
subaccounts would have received an increase of between 6.0% and 6.5%, except for Integrated
Activities (IA), which would have received a 2.9% increase. The FY2017 request also included
an increase for the widely tracked Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research
(EPSCoR) from $160 million to $171 million (an increase of 6.7%), of which $8.56 million was
requested as new mandatory funding.
S. 2837 did not specify funding allocations within RRA. However, Senate report language did
specify funding levels for three programs: $10 million for the Historically Black Colleges and
Universities Excellence in Research program, $18 million for the Advancement of Women in
Academic Science and Engineering Careers program (ADVANCE), and “not less than the fiscal
year 2016 enacted level for EPSCoR” ($160 million).
Similarly, H.R. 5393 did not specify allocations within RRA, but House report language did
specify funding levels for three programs: $171 million for EPSCoR; $48 million for the
International Ocean Drilling Program (IODP); and $147 million for “NSF’s contributions to the
Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) initiative,” which are
part of NSF’s Understanding the Brain (UtB) cross-foundation investment.
Both the House and Senate reports noted support for NSF’s peer review process. The House
report further directed agency actions regarding research abstracts, including a continuation of
agency efforts to ensure that award abstracts are written in “plain English,” stating that they
“serve as a public justification for NSF funding decisions by articulating how the project serves
the national interest.”
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31) did not specify funding allocations
within RRA, except to direct that no more than $544 million remain available for polar research
and operations support and U.S. Antarctic program activities. The explanatory statement
accompanying the act further directed that, of RRA funding, no less than $160 million is for
EPSCoR.8

8

The explanatory statement further approved any language in the Senate and House reports that was unchanged by the
explanatory statement or appropriations act.

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Table 2. NSF Funding by RRA Subaccount, FY2015-FY2017
(budget authority in millions of dollars)
FY2017
House
CommitteeReported

Senate
CommitteeReported

Enacted

790.5

n/s

n/s

n/s

744.2

745.7

–

–

–

0

0

44.8

–

–

–

933.0

935.8

944.8

n/s

n/s

n/s

Discretionary

933.0

935.8

938.4

–

–

–

Mandatory

0

0

56.4

–

–

–

923.5

916.2

1002.7

n/s

n/s

n/s

Discretionary

923.5

916.2

946.4

–

–

–

Mandatory

0

0

56.3

–

–

–

1319.0

1318.5

1398.8

n/s

n/s

n/s

Discretionary

1319.0

1318.5

1319.6

–

–

–

Mandatory

0

0

79.3

–

–

–

1376.3

1349.2

1436.5

n/s

n/s

n/s

Discretionary

1376.3

1349.2

1355.1

–

–

–

Mandatory

0

0

81.4

–

–

–

Social, Behavioral, and
Economic Sciences (SBE)

276.2

272.2

288.8

n/s

n/s

n/s

Discretionary

276.2

272.2

272.4

–

–

–

Mandatory

0

0

16.4

–

–

–

48.5

49.1

52.1

n/s

n/s

n/s

Discretionary

48.5

49.1

49.1

–

–

–

Mandatory

0

0

3.0

–

–

–

427.5

447.1

459.9

n/s

n/s

n/s

Discretionary

427.5

447.1

451.3

–

–

–

Mandatory

0

0

8.6

–

–

–

1.4

1.4

1.4

n/s

n/s

n/s

Discretionary

1.4

1.4

1.4

–

–

–

Mandatory

0

0

0

–

–

–

FY2015
Enacted

FY2016
Estimate

Request

Biological Sciences (BIO)

736.2

744.2

Discretionary

736.2

Mandatory

Account

Computer and
Information Science and
Engineering (CISE)

Engineering (ENG)

Geosciences (GEO)

Mathematical and
Physical Sciences (MPS)

Office of International
Science and Engineering
(OISE)

International and
Integrative Activities
(IIA)

U.S. Arctic Research
Commission (USARC)

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FY2017

Request

House
CommitteeReported

Senate
CommitteeReported

Enacted

6033.7

6425.4

6079.4

6033.6

6033.7

6041.6

6033.7

6079.4

6079.4

6033.6

6033.7

0

0

346.0

0

0

FY2015
Enacted

FY2016
Estimate

6041.6

Discretionary
Mandatory

Account
Research and Related
Activities (RRA) Total

0

Source: FY2017 NSF Budget Request to Congress; H.R. 5393 as reported by the House Committee on
Appropriations, and H.Rept. 114-605; S. 2837, as reported by the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and
S.Rept. 114-239; and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31).
Notes: The term “n/s” means “not specified.” Totals may not add due to rounding.

Education and Human Resources (EHR)
The FY2017 budget request included $953 million for EHR, a $73 million (8.3%) increase over
the FY2016 estimate. Of the total, $54 million was requested as mandatory budget authority. As
reported by the Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, both S. 2837 and H.R. 5393
would have kept EHR funding at the FY2016 enacted level by providing $880 million in
discretionary funding and no mandatory funding. Similarly, P.L. 115-31 provides a total of $880
million in discretionary funding for EHR.
Within EHR, there are four divisions: Division of Graduate Education (DGE), Division of
Undergraduate Education (DUE), Division of Human Resource Development (HRD), and
Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL). The FY2017 request
included increases over FY2016 for each division, the largest of which were requested for DRL
($249.3 million total, an 11.9% increase) and DGE ($305.3 million total, a 9.6% increase). New
mandatory funding was requested for each division except for DGE.
By program, the largest increase in the FY2017 EHR budget request was for EHR Core Research
(ECR): STEM Learning, within DRL.9 The FY2017 request for ECR: STEM Learning was $52
million (including $9 million in requested mandatory funding), double the FY2016 estimate of
$26 million. Congress did not fund a similar requested increase for FY2016. The Senate and
House reports did not specify an appropriations amount for DRL or its ECR program, nor does
the final appropriations act.
NSF’s budget justification stated that “overall, there are no significant shifts in EHR’s priorities
between FY2016 and FY2017,” and noted that EHR would intensify its engagements and crossdiscipline collaborations. One of the ongoing EHR priority programs is CyberCorps: Scholarships
for Service, for which President Obama requested $70 million, an increase of $20 million over
the FY2016 estimate (40% increase). The Senate report recommended $55 million for this
program (10% increase); the House report did not specify an amount. The explanatory statement
9

Each EHR division has an EHR Core Research program (ECR). ECR: STEM Learning is in the Division of Research
on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL). According to the October 24, 2014, ECR: Fundamental Research
in STEM Education program solicitation (NSF15-509), DRL’s “ECR projects are grounded in theory, ask well
formulated research questions, employ relevant data and analytic techniques, and contribute to the growing body of
literature on STEM education research.” Other ECRs include in DGE, ECR: STEM Professional Workforce
Preparation; in HRD, ECR: Broadening Participation and Institutional Capacity in STEM activity; and in DUE, ECR:
STEM Learning Environments.

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accompanying P.L. 115-31 directs NSF to provide $55 million for CyberCorps—a $5 million
increase over the FY2016 estimate—and “no less than $7.5 million for qualified community
colleges as directed by the Senate.”10
President Obama requested no change in total funding for several EHR programs including








Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL, $63 million—no change in total,
but $8 million of the $63 million was requested as mandatory funding),
STEM+C Partnerships ($52 million—no change in total, but $31 million of the
$52 million was requested as mandatory funding),
Advanced Technological Education (ATE, $66 million),
Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program ($61 million),
Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP, $46 million),
Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCUUP, $35 million), and
Tribal Colleges and University Program (TCUP, $14 million).

The Senate report recommended funding these programs at the requested level using only
discretionary funds. The House report specified not less than the requested levels for ATE,
LSAMP, HBCU-UP, and TCUP. Additionally, the Senate and House reports recommended $5
million and $30 million, respectively, to establish a broadening participation program in STEM
fields at Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs).
The explanatory statement accompanying P.L. 115-31 also directs NSF to provide funding at the
requested levels for AISL, STEM+C, TCUP, the HBCU program, and LSAMP. The explanatory
statement further directs NSF to provide at least $15 million to establish an HSI program and
“encourages NSF to use this program to build capacity at institutions of higher education that
typically do not receive high levels of NSF grant funding.”

Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC)
The Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) account supports large
construction projects and scientific instruments. The Obama Administration sought just over $193
million for MREFC in FY2017, $7 million less than FY2016 (3.6% decrease). The Senate report
recommended increasing MREFC funding to $247 million ($54 million above the request). The
House report recommended decreasing funding to $87 million ($106 million below the request).
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, provides $209 million for MREFC, which is $9
million more than the FY2016 estimate. MREFC is the only NSF account to receive an increase
over FY2016 estimated funding levels.
The FY2017 budget request included support for continued construction of the Large Synoptic
Survey Telescope (LSST, $67 million requested, 32.7% decrease) and Daniel K. Inouye Solar
Telescope (DKIST, $20 million requested, no change).11 The Senate report recommended funding
these activities at the requested level. The House report also recommended funding at the
requested level for the LSST ($67 million); it further directed NSF to provide quarterly briefings
10

The Senate report defined these community colleges as those “that have been designated as a Center of Academic
Excellence in information Assurance 2-Year Education [CAE2Y] by the National Security Agency and the Department
of Homeland Security” (p. 118).
11
The Advanced Technology Solar Telescope was renamed the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope in December 2013.

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to the committee on the status of the LSST project but did not specify a funding amount. Neither
project was referenced in P.L. 115-31 or the explanatory statement.
The budget request included $106 million to begin the construction of two Regional Class
Research Vessels (RCRVs) to support science in U.S. coastal waters. The Senate report would
have increased funding to $159 million to support the construction of three new RCRVs; the
House report did not discuss this program. The explanatory statement directs NSF to provide
$122 million to build three RCRVs. This amounts to $41 million per ship, compared to the
FY2017 request of $53 million per ship.
The House report stated that the “recommendation fully funds the requested amounts for the
Antarctic Infrastructure Modernization for Science program” (AIMS, $5 million requested for
preconstruction planning).12 P.L. 115-31 specifies that up to $544 million shall remain available
for polar research and operations support and for U.S. Antarctic program activities.
Both the Senate and House reports also directed the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to
provide an independent perspective on the technical risks and cost overruns for MREFC
programs. The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) is transitioning from the
construction phase to the operational phase, and NSF reported that construction is expected to be
complete by the end of FY2017. Consequently, no MREFC funding was requested for NEON,
and NSF requested $65 million through the Research and Related Activities account for ongoing
operations and maintenance costs for the project.

Other Accounts and Initiatives
The Obama Administration sought $373 million for the Agency Operations and Award
Management (AOAM) account, a $43 million (13%) increase over FY2016. A multi-year plan to
relocate NSF headquarters accounted for $34 million of this increase. The Senate report
recommended $330 million (same as FY2016). The House report recommended $340 million
($10 million above FY2016). The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, provides $330 million
for AOAM. The act further specifies that up to $40.7 million shall be available for costs
associated with NSF relocating to the new headquarters, which is $2.6 million below the FY2017
request of $43.3 million.
The budget request included funding for the National Science Board (NSB) and the Office of
Inspector General (OIG) at approximately the same levels as in FY2016 ($4 million and $15
million, respectively). In line with the House and Senate report recommendations, P.L. 115-31
provides funding amounts nearly equal to the FY2016 estimates for both accounts ($4.4 million
for NSB and $15.2 million for OIG).
The FY2017 request also included funding for NSF activities under three multi-agency
initiatives13 including the


National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI, $415 million requested, about the
same as in FY2016),14

12

AIMS is part of NSF’s broader activities to increase U.S. operational efficiency in the Antarctic ($23.5 million total
requested), implementing recommendations from the U.S. Antarctic Program Blue Ribbon Panel report, More and
Better Science in Antarctica Through Increased Logistical Effectiveness, Washington, DC, July 2012, available at
https://www.nsf.gov/geo/plr/usap_special_review/usap_brp/rpt/index.jsp.
13
See the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) activities under the “NSF-Wide Investments” section of
the NSF FY2017 budget request, pp. 82, 87, and 94, as well as the “Summary Tables” section, p. 9.
14
For more information on the NNI program, see CRS Report RL34401, The National Nanotechnology Initiative:
(continued...)

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



Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD,
$1.254 billion requested, an increase of $59 million [4.9%], most of which [$56
million] was requested as new mandatory funding),15 and
U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP, $348 million, which is $9
million [2.6%] more than the FY2016 estimate).16

The Senate and House reports did not include recommendations for these initiatives. As well, the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, and the accompanying explanatory statement do not
specify funding levels for the initiatives.

Authorizations of Appropriations
Authorizations of appropriations to NSF, which were last enacted in the America COMPETES
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-358), expired in FY2013.17 Members of the 114th Congress
introduced measures to reauthorize provisions from P.L. 111-358, including provisions that would
have authorized appropriations to NSF.
As reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on June 29,
2016, S. 3084, the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (AICA), would have authorized
$7.510 billion for NSF in FY2017. However, provisions to authorize appropriations for NSF were
not included in the AICA bill language as enacted on January 6, 2017 (P.L. 114-329). As passed
by the House in 2015, H.R. 1806, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015, would
have authorized $7.597 billion for NSF in FY2017, specifying funding levels for major accounts
and RRA subaccounts.18
Funding levels initially proposed in each of these acts would have provided reduced
authorizations of appropriations compared to the FY2013 NSF authorization levels under P.L.
111-358. Compared to NSF budget amounts, the proposed reauthorization levels were higher than
NSF’s actual and estimated budget amounts in FY2015 and FY2016. Table 3 shows the FY2013
authorization levels, appropriations to NSF in FY2015 and FY2016, FY2017 requested amounts,
and proposed authorized funding levels for NSF in FY2017 under selected reauthorization
measures from the 114th Congress.

(...continued)
Overview, Reauthorization, and Appropriations Issues, by (name redacted)
15
For more information on the NITRD program, see CRS Report RL33586, The Federal Networking and Information
Technology Research and Development Program: Background, Funding, and Activities, by (name redacted)
.
16
For more information on FY2016 federal R&D funding, including the multi-agency NNI, NITRD, and USGCRP
initiatives, see CRS Report R43944, Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2016, coordinated by (name re
dacted)
17
See CRS Report R43880, The America COMPETES Acts: An Overview, by (name redacted)
.
18
Additionally, H.R. 1898, the America Competes Reauthorization Act of 2015, would have authorized $8.099 billion
for NSF in FY2017, specifying funding levels by major account. Of the three proposed reauthorization acts, only H.R.
1898 would have provided funding at or above NSF’s FY2017 request. H.R. 1898 was introduced on April 21, 2015,
and Congress took no further action on the bill.

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Table 3. NSF Appropriation Authorizations Under Selected, Proposed
Reauthorization Acts
(in millions of dollars)
Proposed
Reauthorization Actsb
FY2013
Authorized

FY2015
Actual

FY2016
Estimate

FY2017
Requesta

H.R. 1806

H.R. 1898

6,637.8

6,041.6

6,033.7

6,425.4

6,186.3

6,495.6

Biological Sciences (BIO)

n/s

736.2

744.2

790.5

823.0

n/s

Computer and Information Science
and Engineering (CISE)

n/s

933.0

935.8

944.8

1,038.0

n/s

Engineering (ENG)

n/s

923.5

916.2

1002.7

1,010.0

n/s

Geosciences (GEO)

n/s

1319.0

1318.5

1398.8

1,200.0

n/s

Mathematical and Physical Sciences
(MPS)

n/s

1376.3

1349.2

1436.5

1,500.0

n/s

Social, Behavioral, and Economic
Sciences (SBE)

n/s

276.2

272.2

288.8

150.0

n/s

Office of International Science and
Engineering (OISE)

n/s

48.5

49.1

52.1

38.5

n/s

Integrative Activities (IA)

n/s

427.5

447.1

459.9

425.3

n/s

U.S. Arctic Research Commission
(USARC)

n/s

1.4

1.4

1.4

1.5

n/s

Education and Human Resources
(EHR)

1,041.8

886.3

880.0

952.9

866.0

1,010.7

Major Research Equipment and
Facilities Construction (MREFC)

236.8

144.8

200.3

193.1

200.3

200.0

Agency Operations and Award
Management (AOAM)

363.7

306.6

330.0

373.0

325.0

372.6

National Science Board (NSB)

4.9

4.2

4.4

4.4

4.4

4.5

Office of the Inspector General
(OIG)

15.0

14.6

15.2

15.2

15.2

15.6

$8,300.0

$7,398.0

$7,463.5

7964.0

$7,597.1

$8,099.0

Account
Research and Related Activities
(RRA)

NSF, Total

Source: America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-358); FY2017 NSF congressional budget
justification; H.R. 1806, as passed by the House on May 20, 2015; and H.R. 1898, as introduced on April 21,
2015.
Notes: The term “n/s” means “not specified.” Amounts in the “FY2015 actual” column represent total, actual
budgetary resources, including annual appropriations, unobligated balances, transfers, and other adjustments.
Italicized account names represent RRA subaccounts.
a. Amounts include both discretionary and new mandatory funding requests. See Table 1 and Table 2 for a
breakdown of discretionary and mandatory funding requests for NSF major accounts and RRA subaccounts.
b. These acts may include proposed reauthorizations for more than one fiscal year. This table only includes
FY2017 proposed reauthorization amounts.

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NSF Funding History
The following sections provide information on authorizations of appropriations, as well as
funding data and trends, since the foundation was established in 1950.

Long-term Funding Trends
Table 4, Figure 1, and Figure 2 show the trends in NSF authorizations, budget requests, and
appropriations since the foundation was first authorized in the early 1950s. Except in FY1957,
current and constant dollar actual appropriations to NSF grew rapidly between FY1951 and
FY1966. After FY1967, appropriations fluctuated (up some years and down in others) until about
FY1988. NSF experienced periods of generally sustained growth in current and constant dollar
appropriations between FY1989 and FY1995 and again between FY1998 and FY2003. Since
FY2004, growth in the NSF budget has slowed compared to prior years.
Table 4. NSF Authorizations, Budget Requests, and Appropriations: FY1951-FY2017
(in millions of current and constant [FY2017] dollars)
Current
($ millions)

Constant
(FY2017 $ millions)

Authorization

Request

Appropriation

Authorization

Request

Appropriation

1951

such sums

─

0

such sums

─

2

1952

such sums

14

4

such sums

107

27

1953

such sums

15

5

such sums

113

36

1954

such sums

15

8

such sums

111

59

1955

such sums

14

14

such sums

103

105

1956

such sums

31

53

such sums

223

381

1957

such sums

41

40

such sums

286

277

1958

such sums

65

52

such sums

437

348

1959

such sums

140

138

such sums

927

910

1960

such sums

160

153

such sums

1,046

998

1961

such sums

190

176

such sums

1,223

1,132

1962

such sums

210

263

such sums

1,338

1,678

1963

such sums

358

323

such sums

2,254

2,030

1964

such sums

589

353

such sums

3,664

2,195

1965

such sums

488

420

such sums

2,981

2,569

1966

such sums

530

480

such sums

3,172

2,871

1967

such sums

525

481

such sums

3,049

2,793

1968

such sums

526

495

such sums

2,953

2,779

1969

525

500

400

2,818

2,684

2,147

1970

478

500

440

2,433

2,547

2,241

1971

538

513

513

2,607

2,487

2,487

Fiscal Year

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The National Science Foundation: FY2017 Appropriations and Funding History

Current
($ millions)

Constant
(FY2017 $ millions)

Authorization

Request

Appropriation

Authorization

Request

Appropriation

1972

653

622

622

3,020

2,879

2,879

1973

697

653

649

3,090

2,896

2,879

1974

633

583

579

2,621

2,414

2,400

1975

808

672

764

3,032

2,523

2,868

1976

787

755

715

2,763

2,652

2,511

1977

811

802

776

2,655

2,626

2,541

1978

879

944

863

2,699

2,897

2,649

1979

930

934

911

2,641

2,653

2,588

1980

1,002

1,006

992

2,617

2,629

2,591

1981

1,115

1,148

1,025

2,652

2,732

2,439

1982

n/a

1,354

1,039

n/a

3,014

2,314

1983

n/a

1,073

1,094

n/a

2,289

2,333

1984

n/a

1,292

1,341

n/a

2,663

2,762

1985

n/a

1,502

1,502

n/a

2,995

2,995

1986

1,517

1,569

1,524

2,958

3,060

2,971

1987

1,685

1,686

1,623

3,214

3,215

3,095

1988

n/a

1,893

1,717

n/a

3,497

3,172

1989

2,050

2,050

1,923

3,642

3,642

3,416

1990

2,388

2,149

2,082

4,095

3,685

3,570

1991

2,782

2,485

2,316

4,607

4,115

3,836

1992

3,245

2,742

2,571

5,246

4,433

4,155

1993

3,505

3,037

2,734

5,534

4,795

4,316

1994

n/a

2,753

2,983

n/a

4,254

4,609

1995

n/a

3,200

3,264

n/a

4,842

4,938

1996

n/a

3,360

3,220

n/a

4,991

4,783

1997

n/a

3,325

3,270

n/a

4,854

4,773

1998

3,506

3,367

3,431

5,055

4,855

4,947

1999

3,773

3,773

3,676

5,372

5,372

5,234

2000

3,886

3,921

3,912

5,421

5,470

5,457

2001

n/a

4,572

4,431

n/a

6,229

6,036

2002

n/a

4,473

4,823

n/a

5,996

6,466

2003

5,536

5,036

5,323

7,283

6,624

7,002

2004

6,391

5,481

5,589

8,203

7,036

7,174

2005

7,378

5,745

5,482

9,183

7,150

6,823

2006

8,520

5,605

5,589

10,269

6,756

6,737

Fiscal Year

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The National Science Foundation: FY2017 Appropriations and Funding History

Current
($ millions)

Constant
(FY2017 $ millions)

Authorization

Request

Appropriation

Authorization

Request

Appropriation

2007

9,839

6,020

5,890

11,546

7,065

6,912

2008

6,600

6,429

6,125

7,587

7,391

7,042

8,325

7,789

7,379a

Fiscal Year

2009

7,326

6,854

6,494a

2010

8,132

7,045

6,873

9,161

7,936

7,742

2011

7,424

7,424

6,806

8,197

8,197

7,514

2012

7,800

7,767

7,033

8,457

8,421

7,626

2013

8,300

7,373

6,884

8,847

7,859

7,338

2014

n/a

7,626

7,172

n/a

7,992

7,517

2015

n/a

7,255

7,344

n/a

7,502

7,594

2016

n/a

7,724

7,463

n/a

7,862

7,597

2017

n/a

7,964

7,472

n/a

7,964

7,472

Source: Funding data in the “Authorization” columns are from selected FY1951 to FY2013 NSF authorization
acts. Funding data in the “Request” and “Appropriations” columns are from National Science Foundation, Budget
Internet Information System, “NSF Requests and Appropriations History,” NSF.gov, June 13, 2016,
http://dellweb.bfa.nsf.gov/NSFRqstAppropHist/NSFRequestsandAppropriationsHistory.pdf, and P.L. 115-31. To
calculate constant FY2017 dollars, CRS used the Gross Domestic Product (Chained) Price Index found in Office
of Management and Budget, Historical Tables, “Table 10.1,” February 2, 2016, available at
https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2017/assets/hist10z1.xls.
Notes: As per communication between CRS and NSF dated March 20, 2014, the “Appropriation” column shows
funding provided in annual appropriations acts plus adjustments required in those acts, other laws, committee
reports, etc. Adjustments include rescissions, sequestration, funding transfers across NSF accounts, supplemental
appropriations (not including American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, P.L. 111-5, funding in FY2009), and
other changes. Resulting amounts most closely align with NSF’s approved Current Plans. The term “n/a” means
“not available.” The term “such sums” means “such sums as may be necessary” to carry out agency powers and
duties.
a. FY2009 appropriation amounts do not include American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), P.L. 1115, supplemental funding, which provided an additional $3,002 million to NSF. With ARRA included, total
FY2009 appropriations to NSF were $9,496 million in current dollars and $10,791 million in constant
(FY2017) dollars.

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Figure 1. Current Dollar NSF Authorizations, Budget Requests, and Appropriations:
FY1951 to FY2017
(in millions of current dollars)

Source: Table 4.

Figure 2. Constant Dollar NSF Authorizations, Budget Requests, and Appropriations:
FY1951 to FY2017
(in millions of constant [2017] dollars)

Source: Table 4.

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NSF Obligations by Major Account
Table 5 shows NSF obligations by major account since FY2003. Prior years are not comparable
due to changes in NSF account structure. Most of the growth in total NSF obligations since
FY2003 has accrued to the main research account, RRA, which increased by about $1.890 billion
in current dollars (45.6%) between FY2003 and the FY2017 enacted amount. Total NSF
obligations increased by about $2.094 billion (39%) during this same period.
Table 5. NSF Obligations by Major Account, FY2003-FY2017
(in millions of current dollars)
Fiscal Year

RRA

EHR

MREFC

AOAM

NSB

OIG

NSF
Total

2003

4,144

846

179

189

3

9

5,369

2004

4,388

850

184

219

2

9

5,652

2005

4,328

750

165

223

4

10

5,481

2006

4,449

700

234

247

4

11

5,646

2007

4,758

696

166

248

4

12

5,884

2008

4,853

766

167

282

4

12

6,084

2009a

5,152

846

161

294

4

12

6,469

2010

5,615

873

166

300

4

14

6,972

2011

5,608

861

125

299

4

14

6,913

2012

5,758

831

198

299

4

14

7,105

2013

5,559

835

196

294

4

14

6,902

2014

5,775

832

200

306

4

14

7,131

2015

6,042

886

145

307

4

15

7,398

2016b

6,034

880

200

330

4

15

7,463

2017c

6,034

880

209

330

4

15

7,472

Source: FY2005 to FY2017 annual NSF congressional budget justifications.
Notes: NSF adopted its current appropriations account structure in 2003. For this table, CRS adjusted FY2003
to FY2007 RRA and EHR obligations data to reflect the transfer of the EPSCoR program between these accounts
in FY2008. This table treats EPSCoR as part of RRA for all years in the data set.
a. FY2009 appropriations amounts do not include American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), P.L.
111-5, one-time supplemental funding. With ARRA included, FY2009 appropriations were $9,496 million
($3,002 supplemental) total for NSF; 7,686 million ($2,500 million supplemental) for RRA; $945 million
($100 million supplemental) for EHR; $552 million ($400 million supplemental) for MREFC; and $14 million
($2 million supplemental) for OIG.
b. Estimated funding levels, as per NSF’s FY2017 budget request to Congress. Prior years are actual.
c. Enacted funding levels, per P.L. 115-31.

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The National Science Foundation: FY2017 Appropriations and Funding History

Policy Implications
Continuing appropriations acts (often known as continuing resolutions [CRs]) that provide shortterm funding until appropriations decisions are finalized can lead to uncertainty for agencies.19
On one hand, CRs allow for ongoing appropriations discussions without a funding gap. On the
other hand, they may lead to reductions or delays in agency operations, such as hiring staff,
beginning new projects, and granting awards and contracts. Further, the three CRs that affected
agency funding levels for the first approximately seven months of FY2017 reduced NSF
operations slightly below FY2016 estimated levels, including a 0.496% across-the-board decrease
from FY2016 funding levels that was in effect until December 9, 2016, and a 0.19% decrease in
effect from December 10, 2016 until April 28, 2017.
In the longer term, differences between program authorizations and appropriations, and a lack of
consensus between some House and Senate Appropriations Committee recommendations, may
lead to planning challenges for agencies and the broader scientific community. For example, the
COMPETES acts sought to double funding for NSF; while the NSF budget increased between
FY2008 and FY2013, appropriations did not reach authorized levels. For FY2017, there was a
distinct difference between House and Senate recommended funding levels for the major facilities
(MREFC) account; such discrepancies in recommendations may reflect broader policy
disagreements. Having a clear signal from Congress on likely budgetary resources may better aid
future program planning.

Author Contact Information
(name redacted)
Analyst in Science and Technology Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov
, 7-....

(name redacted)
Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov
, 7-....

19

See CRS Report RL34700, Interim Continuing Resolutions (CRs): Potential Impacts on Agency Operations, by
(name redacted) .

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EveryCRSReport.com
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EveryCRSReport.com republishes CRS reports that are available to all Congressional staff. The
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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/crs%3AR44679. Public record. Not legal advice.