The following is a statement from Association of American Universities President Barbara R. Snyder about the proposed FY24 NSF funding levels:
I am pleased to see that Congress has reached agreement on a package of bills to fund a portion of the government through the end of fiscal year 2024 (FY24). However, I am deeply concerned about the funding proposed for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and what it means for our future.
Our nation’s competitiveness depends on advancements in artificial intelligence, quantum information science, advanced manufacturing, and other areas critical to economic and national security. NSF is at the heart of research and workforce training in these areas and is poised to transform regional economies all across the nation through new, congressionally-mandated programs such as the Regional Innovation Engines. The NSF was identified as critical to our national competitiveness in recent legislation, which set it on a five-year growth plan. The funding proposed in the package would reduce NSF’s capacity by almost $500 million or more than 5% below current levels. At a time when this agency has been identified as core to so many critical priorities, this decision is short-sighted and will cede U.S. leadership to our competitors.
By undercutting the NSF’s work, we are gambling our nation’s future as a global leader in science and innovation.
We need to pay more than lip service to ensure U.S. scientific leadership in the future and put real dollars forward to support NSF and its critical programs. We must refocus our efforts and ensure that we make up the deficit in FY25.
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