The US government has announced a budget agreement that eliminates sequestration for fiscal 2014. As a result, non-defense discretionary spending is estimated to increase 4.7% to $491 billion. However, final appropriations for individual agencies have yet to be determined. Optimism is high regarding budgets for research agencies because the standard budget process, in which Congressional subcommittees negotiate the budget for each federal agency, will resume. Congress has until January 15, 2014, to pass a fiscal 2014 budget or a continuing resolution.

Source: Science