House Science Committee Holds Hearing on FY 2024 R&D Budget Request

On April 26, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing to review the Administration’s fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget request for research and development (see COSSA’s analysis of the President’s budget request). Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan, the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), and Dr. Dan Reed, the Chair of the National Science Board (NSB), testified before the Committee.

Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) commended the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 and its prioritizing of scientific innovation, while also acknowledging that innovation strives on predictable and stable funding (see previous COSSA coverage). Some Committee members expressed concerns about the GOP’s proposed budget cuts resulting in the loss of the United States’ global scientific leadership, with Chairman Lucas adding that emerging technologies should be developed with “our values of transparency and fairness.” Dr. Panchanathan and Dr. Reed both confirmed that decreasing funding for the NSF at the proposed levels would result in such losses, with Dr. Reed adding that decreases would allow foreign competitors to surpass the U.S. in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence.

Representative Claudia Tenney (R-NY) voiced concerns about the focus on equity within the NSF budget; Dr. Panchanathan explained that equity allows equal opportunity for researchers to be examined based on merit. 

A recording of the hearing, along with Dr. Panchanathan, Dr. Reed, and Chairman Lucas’ opening statements are available on the Science Committee’s website. Ranking Member Lofgren’s opening statement is available on the Science Committee Democrat’s website.