US Federal Funding as the AAAS Sees It. (January 10, 2013)

The American Association for the Advancement of Science gave this short appraisal of US governmental deficit reduction and its affect on support for science:

The challenge for [US] science funding is that, the tax deal notwithstanding, the nation continues on an unsustainable fiscal path, and deficit reduction remains a major focus for both parties. There are three ways for legislators to adjust fiscal course: raise revenues, reduce entitlements, or reduce discretionary spending (a fourth course would include pro-growth policies and investments that boost economic activity and, thus, revenues). Taking taxes off the table removes one means of deficit-reduction, and thus may leave science funding at greater risk - especially given House Speaker John Boehner's (R-OH) recent comments that sequestration has substantial support within the GOP. Overall federal R&D funding has declined by about 10% in constant (i.e., inflation-adjusted) dollars over the past few years; sequestration would result in cuts of another 8% or so on top of that.