The Coalition for National Security Research, which includes AAU and other organizations, sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urging an increase in FY24 over the FY23 funding levels for defense science and technology (S&T) programs, including the defense basic research programs. CNSR requests DOD to “fund the defense S&T program equal to 3% of the overall DoD budget and ensure defense basic research is funded at 20% of the defense S&T budget.”
The letter notes that several organizations agree with CNSR’s requested funding levels for defense S&T programs: “DSB, National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI), National Academies, Center for New American Security (CNAS), bipartisan House Armed Services Committee’s Future of Defense Task Force report, and Council on Competitiveness all recommend that the defense S&T program funding equal 3% of the DoD budget in order to ensure United States military technological dominance. Further, the DSB, National Academies and Council on Competitiveness recommend defense basic research comprise 20% of the defense S&T budget to support the high-payoff research needed to yield transformational capabilities for the military.”