FACT SHEET: President Biden’s 2025 Budget Invests in Science and Technology to Power American Innovation, Expand Frontiers of What’s Possible
President Biden’s Budget makes strategic investments in science and technology (S&T) to ensure that America continues to lead the world in innovation and that S&T breakthroughs benefit all of America. The Budget includes $202 billion for federal research and development (R&D) to tackle the great challenges of our time and achieve our nation’s great aspirations—promoting robust health and ample opportunity for each person in every community, addressing the climate crisis, sustaining global security and stability, and realizing the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) while managing its risks.
The Budget supports progress on these aspirations by investing $99 billion in the basic and applied research that will drive the development of future cutting-edge technologies, products, and services. It also invests in transformative approaches to harness innovation in health and energy, like the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).
Since Day One, the Biden-Harris Administration has worked to deliver the benefits of innovation to every corner of the country. The Budget builds on this work by supporting regional innovation initiatives at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Commerce.
A video of today’s White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) event that highlights some key aspects of the President’s Budget is available here.
The President’s Budget:
- Advances safe, secure, and trustworthy artificial intelligence. The budget invests in the development of innovative approaches to AI to mitigate threats to truth, trust, and democracy; advance safety and security; protect privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties; and boost economic opportunity for all. The Budget provides robust investments in AI R&D, including $1.6 billion in investments across the National Institutes of Health (NIH) including for the AIM-AHEAD program which works to increase the participation and representation of the researchers and communities that are currently underrepresented in AI and machine learning modeling and applications through mutually beneficial partnerships. It includes $729 million for AI R&D at the National Science Foundation (NSF; a 10 percent increase from 2023 Enacted), including $30 million for the second year of the National AI Research Resource Pilot. It also includes $310 million for DARPA’s AI Forward initiative to research and develop trustworthy technology that operates reliably, interacts appropriately with people, and meets the most pressing national security and societal needs in an ethical manner.
- Bolsters R&D for future economic competitiveness. The Budget supports American innovation and leadership in research and scientific discovery by investing $20.1 billion—a $1.2 billion increase over the 2023 enacted level—in the three CHIPS and Science Act authorized agencies: NSF, the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science.
The Biden-Harris Administration prioritizes supporting and expanding applied research, experimental development, standards, and related efforts that will facilitate the adoption of a broad range of new technologies. Emerging technology R&D efforts include: $900 million, an increase of 36 percent from 2023, for NSF’s Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, which focuses on building partnerships across R&D sectors to translate basic research to products and processes that can benefit the American people; and $606 million at DOE’s Office of Science to integrate supercomputing, AI, and quantum-based technology for developing next-generation high-performance computing systems to ensure U.S. leadership while broadening access to leading-edge computing resources by the community. - Promotes better health outcomes for every person. With more than $3.4 billion in R&D for Cancer Moonshot-related investments, the Budget supports laboratory, clinical, public health, and environmental health research programs that span five focus areas across more than a dozen departments and agencies. This includes $2.9 billion in discretionary and mandatory resources at the Department of Health and Human Services, which support Cancer Moonshot activities across the National Cancer Institute and ARPA-H. The budget also emphasizes research in suicide prevention and mental health of our veterans with over $135 million for the Department of Veterans Affairs medical care.
- Maintains global security and stability. The Budget includes $92.8 billion in Department of Defense (DOD) R&D to support the development of next-generation defense capabilities. These include critical and emerging technology areas such as AI and autonomy, quantum information science, biotechnology and biomanufacturing, advanced materials, next-generation wireless communication, human-machine interfaces, directed energy, hypersonic system development, integrated sensing and cyber, and advanced microelectronics. DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) will advance new capabilities for space situational awareness to reinforce arms control and verification missions in support of current treaties, like the Outer Space Treaty. Specifically, the Budget funds the NNSA Space Monitoring and Verification Program at $35 million, advancing our space-based sensing capability.
- Reduces barriers and inequity in S&T while strengthening research. The Budget supports workforce development in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) across America with an emphasis on emerging research institutions and historically underserved communities. Key workforce efforts include NSF’s programs to broaden participation of underrepresented groups in STEM education and research programs and DOE’s proposal to build capacity for advancing energy research and developing a new energy workforce at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority-Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, community colleges, and emerging research institutions.
- Tackles the climate crisis and environmental impacts. The Budget supports over $10.7 billion in clean energy innovation activities that are crucial for the nation to achieve President Biden’s goal to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Further, to advance our understanding of climate change and its implications, the Budget supports $4.5 billion in climate research activities, including efforts that advance the U.S. Global Change Research Program’s Decadal Strategic Plan. The Budget also advances the development of actionable climate services, consistent with the Federal Framework and Action Plan, to support communities, governments, and businesses in understanding risks, enhancing resilience, and taking action.
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