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Research Reporter: January 2008
Research Information from the University of Michigan
Washington Update
Disappointment for research programs in final FY08 Budget
By Sarah Walkling
Director of Federal Relations for Research & Assistant Director of the UM Washington, D.C. office
Following a lengthy impasse between the executive and legislative branches of the federal government, Congress voted in December to fund all domestic federal programs at the level requested by the President in his FY08 budget request. (Medical care for veterans was the only exception.)
As a result, new money expected for vital physical sciences and engineering research programs did not materialize and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was once again flat funded.
The FY08 budget cycle began with support from both the White House and Congress for significant increases for agencies key to maintaining U.S. international competitiveness and to U-M research, among them the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy's Office of Science.
The President's budget request included $6.4 billion for the NSF, an 8.7 percent increase over last year. The House and Senate Appropriations Committees recommended slightly higher amounts. However, the final FY08 allocation for the NSF is $6.06 billion--a mere 2.5 percent more than last year.
The Office of Science expected approximately $4.5 billion, about an 18 percent increase. However, it received $4.05 billion. Taking into account money specifically set aside for earmarks, this is just a 2.6 percent increase over last year.
The impacts of this shortfall are wide ranging. Research at Fermilab is in jeopardy as it braces for a $52 million budget cut. The U.S. contribution to ITER, an international effort to develop fusion power, is zeroed out. Operations at the Energy's basic science facilities will be reduced by 20 percent. Planned growth for research in nuclear physics, hydrogen energy, and solar energy also will be slowed. The NIH's $29.23 billion final budget is higher than the Administration's proposal, which had slated NIH for a cut. Nonetheless, the NIH is again facing flat funding--its final allocation just a 0.5 percent increase over FY07.
NASA has received a significant increase for FY08, but the new money is allocated to human spacecraft, including the International Space Station and the replacement of the Space Shuttle. The final decisions by Congress meant a 0.2 percent cut to NASA's basic and applied research programs compared to last year. Responses to this dire federal research funding picture have come from leading higher education and science organizations. The Association of American Universities-- of which the University of Michigan is a member-- stated, "the FY08 omnibus appropriations bill is very disappointing to those who support the competitiveness and innovation agendas of the President and Congress."
The American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS) said, "while we recognize that both the Congress and the White House face many competing priorities as they attempt to reach a compromise for final spending limits, we see a missed opportunity to honor the commitment made by both branches of government to support basic research."
In the coming months, the U-M will work closely with other higher education community leaders and members of the Michigan Congressional delegation to counter the impact of this budget and communicate that, to protect U.S. leadership in research and innovation in the global economy, this funding trend must not continue in next fiscal year.
Walkling is the Director of Federal Research Relations and Assistant Director of the UM Washington, D.C. Office.
Travelling to Washington with policy or research funding concerns? Contact Sarah Walkling at the University of Michigan DC Office, 499 South Capitol Street, SW, Suite 501, 202-554-0578. Faculty and staff with questions may e-mail Sarah at skwa@umich.edu.
January 2008
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