The continuing resolution (CR) to fund the US federal government through the end of fiscal year (FY) 2011 is $38.5 billion below the FY10 level. President Obama signed HR 1473 into law April 15 (see IBO 4/15/11). It is regarded as a CR instead of an appropriations bill, and therefore was not supplemented with clarifying statements or a report offering details about specific support to agencies. IBO contacted the budget offices of the major research agencies and was told that the official figures are still pending.

All non-defense discretionary spending was subjected to a 0.2% across-the-board cut. The Department of Energy suffered the deepest cuts, receiving $10,468 million less than FY10 levels. The cut for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy includes FY10 $292 million in earmarks. Excluding FY10 earmarks, the base budget for the Office of Science increased by $56 million. Cutbacks to the NIH (see IBO 4/30/11) include $210 million that extend across all 27 institutes/centers and the Office of the Director, and $50 million from a buildings account. The NSF estimates it will have to grant 134 fewer awards and fund 1,500 fewer researchers than in FY10.

 Selected Significant US Fiscal 2011 Budget Figures 

                                                                               FY11 ($M)       Chg.

 Dept. of Energy                                                                $25,644       -29.0%

 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy                                          $1,835       -22.2%

 Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy                                          $180         100%

 Office of Science                                                               $4,874        -0.7%  

 Dept. of Homeland Security                                                     $41,750        -2.0%  

 Research, Development, Test and Evaluation                                         $25         0.0%

 Science and Technology                                                            $829       -17.6%

 Dept. of Health and Human Services                                                 N/A          N/A

 CDC                                                                             $5,649       -11.5%

 FDA                                                                             $2,452         4.0%

 NIH                                                                             $3,068        -0.8%

 EPA                                                                             $8,812       -15.0%

 Science and Technology Programs                                                   $813        -3.9%

 NIST                                                                              $752       -12.3%

 Scientific and Technical Research and Services                                    $508        -1.4%

 Industrial Technology Services                                                    $174       -10.8%

 Construction of Research Facilities                                                $70       -52.4%

 Technology and Innovation Program                                                  $45       -35.8%

 NSF                                                                             $6,874        -0.8%

 Research and Related Activities                                                 $5,575        -0.8%

 Education and Human Resources                                                     $863        -1.2%

 USDA                                                                               N/A          N/A

 Food Safety and Inspection                                                      $1,009        -1.0%

 Agricultural Research Service                                                   $1,135        -3.7%

 National Institute of Food and Agriculture                                      $1,220        -9.4%

 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative                                          $265         1.0%

 Competitive Grants                                                                $264        -0.7%