NSF Funding Cuts Present a National Security Issue

Senior officials from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and its governing board expressed grave concerns at a recent House Oversight Subcommittee on Research and Technology hearing. NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan warned that continued funding cuts could have “devastating” effects, particularly in crucial areas like quantum computing and AI, potentially compromising national security by allowing adversaries to outpace US research efforts.

Panchanathan emphasized, “This is a national security issue, and this is not something that we should take lightly at all.” Echoing this sentiment, Dan Reed, Chair Emeritus of the National Science Board, described the budget reductions as “devastating,” stating that the nation is “leaving the future on the table,” especially as inflation exacerbates the impact of these cuts.

The hearing comes in the wake of reduced appropriations for NSF and other science agencies in the fiscal year 2024 budget, which fell short of the levels authorized under the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act. This act was designed to enhance US semiconductor production and support R&D in emerging technologies. Despite these challenges, President Joe Biden’s proposed budget seeks to increase NSF funding from $9.06 billion in FY 2024 to $10.18 billion, although this still remains below the CHIPS Act targets.

In related news, the Technology Modernization Fund is making targeted investments to leverage generative AI, enhance security, and improve digital services.

The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon.
If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.