The Coalition for National Security Research, which includes AAU, sent a letter to House and Senate defense appropriations leaders to highlight the coalition’s funding priorities for the FY21 Defense appropriations measure. The letter encourages the appropriators to support increased overall funding for Department of Defense programs and highlights various funding priorities from both the House and Senate versions of the Defense appropriations measure. Though overall funding for Defense science and technology and basic research programs is well below the levels recommended by the Defense Science Board, National Academies, and others, the letter thanks appropriators for rejecting the president’s proposed cuts to these programs.