US Public Science Funding Looks Toward Sharp Cuts if House of Representatives Republicans Prevail. (February 4, 2011)

Following the US mid-year elections last November, researchers in the United States set themselves for a probable king hit come time for the Congress to debate federal appropriations. While the axe is yet to fall it looks like its decent is set to begin.

According to ScienceInsider's Jeffrey Mervis, proposed reduction in federal spending this year includes double-digit cuts in the panels that fund most of civilian basic research. It is US$74 billion lower than President Barack Obama's 2011 request, submitted 1 year ago and never enacted, and is divided between $56 billion in civilian spending and $18 billion for security expenditures, including $9 billion from the military.

The panel that controls the budgets of the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the Department of Commerce would get 16% less money than in 2010 and 11% less than President Obama has requested for the current, 2011 fiscal year.

The panel that oversees the Department of Energy would receive 10% less than in 2010 and 15% less than the president's request.

The panel that oversees the National Institutes of Health and the Education Department would receive 8% less than the president's request and 4% less than in 2010.

The Republican controlled House of Representatives is expected to vote on the proposed appropriations the week of 14 February with final passage by Congress expected before March 4  when funding through a current resolution (CR) expires.

Mr Mervis points out: "Not coincidentally, Obama submits his 2012 budget request to Congress on 14 February.