NSF’s FY18 Budget Cut by Trump Administration

NSF’s FY18 Budget Cut by Trump Administration

On May 23, 2017, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued President Trump’s proposal for the Budget of the U.S. Government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018. The budget proposes significant cuts in funding for climate and other environmental research at various federal agencies. For example, the National Science Foundation (NSF) will see funding for its climate and environmental research programs cut by ten percent or $216 million, compared to FY 2017 levels. This is expected to have a major impact on scientific research, with a 2018 report indicating:

“NSF’s annual budget represents 27 percent of the total federal budget for basic research conducted at U.S. colleges and universities, and an estimated 63 percent of all federal support for academic [climate and environmental research]. In many science and engineering fields NSF is the primary source of federal academic support . . .

The proposed budget reductions in FY 2018 will reduce funding opportunities in [climate and environmental research], leading to an estimated 800 fewer awards in FY 2018 compared to FY 2017 . . . [They] would also reduce support for up to 2,500 individuals, including senior scientists and post-doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate students. Fewer funding opportunities and awards will discourage potential graduates from pursuing careers in the geosciences.”