1. S&T Funding in the New Administration
Matt Hourihan
March 27, 2017
For the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Forum
AAAS R&D Budget and Policy Program

2. A new Administration that…
Prioritizes defense buildup and the nuclear triad
Pledges tax cuts and (eventual) balanced budgets
Promises to leave the major entitlements alone
Focuses on nondefense budget as source of deficit reduction
Proposes major cuts to federal R&D
Is marginally more generous to basic research than applied research and technology
Follows an Administration that…
Generally attempted to prioritize R&D investments
Placed special emphasis on applied energy technology

15. Reagan vs Trump
Reagan: Sustained the consensus on government’s role in basic research in general, while attacking applied tech, environmental R&D; supported big science
Trump looking to cut all of it
115th Congress seems much less willing than the 97th Congress to meet Administration even halfway
Some very negative reactions!
60-vote requirement for spending caps
Over time, Reagan did evolve
i.e. called for NSF doubling 20 years before America COMPETES

16. For more info…