The Coalition for National Security Research, of which AAU is a member, sent a letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper, OMB Acting Director Russell Vought, and OSTP Director Kelvin Droegemeier asking that they support robust and sustained funding growth for key Defenseresearch and education programs in the FY21 budgets request. “The discoveries and innovations that have provided the U.S. military with global technological superiority can often be traced back to investments in the Defense S&T program,” the letter says. The Coalition calls for “funding levels consistent with expert recommendations” for Defense S&T programs and requests a four percent increase over currently enacted level "at least a four percent increase over enacted levels in the Defense S&T program including the defense basic research programs."