A new bill proposal that would prohibit any increases on Brazil’s public spending, including its science budget, is in the process of being passed through Congress. Entitled PEC 241, the proposal was approved by the Chamber of Deputies earlier this month and is due for another Chamber vote, along with two Senate votes. The current federal science budget is approximately $1.5 billion, which is the lowest the budget has been since 2006 (corrected for inflation, which is approximately 7.2% in 2016). Brazil’s science institutions have been forced to cut funding for scholarships and grants, as well as the total number of these awards. General operations have also been affected at these institutions, as certain national research centers cannot afford basic utilities such as electricity. PEC 241 affects the total federal budget as opposed to specific ministries, so science leaders are hopeful that funds will be able to be moved around.

Source: Science