When it reconvenes in September, the US Congress plans to draft and approve a continuing resolution (CR) to maintain federal agencies’ budgets through the first half of fiscal 2013. Also, Congress will choose whether to alter current budgets. Adjustments cannot be made once the CR is in place. The CR could lessen the NSF’s chance of receiving its requested 5% budget increase for fiscal 2013, as a new Congress will be elected. Often, agencies will not use their entire budgets for a fiscal year in preparation for possible cuts the following year. The CR would prevent the proposed January 2013 sequestration cuts (see IBO 11/30/11).

Source: Science Magazine