National Science Foundation (): Budget Request to Congress Overview for Fiscal Year

List of Key Chapter Titles

1. Budget Request Overview and Strategic Priorities
2. Research and Related Activities (R&RA) Overview
3. NSF Summary Tables
4. Research and Infrastructure Funding
5. NSF-Wide Investments
6. Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) Overview
7. Organizational Excellence and Agency Operations and Award Management (AOAM)
8. Performance and Management
9. NSF Authorizations and Other Reports
10. Congressional Report on Computer Science Education Research
11. EPSCoR Program Fiscal Year 2024 Report to Congress
12. CHIPS and Science Act Fiscal Year 2026 Spending Plan

Document Introduction

This report is an in-depth analysis based on the official "Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request" document submitted by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to Congress on May 30, 2025. The total request amounts to $39.0315 billion (excluding mandatory appropriations), reflecting strategic resource adjustments in a constrained budgetary environment. The report's core argument is that NSF is shifting public funds from traditional broad support for basic science towards focused investments in specific frontier areas that are expected to drive economic growth, enhance U.S. technological leadership, and directly serve national security and critical industry needs.

The structured presentation of the request document first clarifies the strategic priorities of the budget. Artificial Intelligence (with a proposed investment of $655.23 million) is placed at the forefront, with goals not only to advance the theoretical foundations of trustworthy AI but also to emphasize breakthroughs in specific application domains to maintain U.S. global dominance in this field. Following closely are Quantum Information Science ($231.15 million) and the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships ($350 million), the latter accelerating technology commercialization through programs like SBIR/STTR. Furthermore, areas such as Biotechnology ($248.59 million), Advanced Manufacturing ($110.1 million), Microelectronics and Semiconductors ($65.75 million), and Advanced Wireless ($59.46 million) are also listed as key directions for continued investment. These investments aim to directly address challenges from global competitors and ensure U.S. security and autonomy in strategic supply chains such as semiconductors and the bioeconomy.

The report provides a detailed analysis of NSF's internal resource reallocation. The total FY 2026 request shows a significant decrease of 56.9% compared to the current FY 2024 plan. The "Research and Related Activities" (R&RA) account saw a reduction of 60.8%, with budget requests for various scientific directorates (e.g., BIO, CISE, EDU, ENG, MPS, etc.) all experiencing substantial cuts, ranging from 44.6% to 75%. In contrast, the "Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction" (MREFC) account increased by 7.3%, focusing on supporting ongoing projects such as the Leadership-Class Computing Facility ($201 million) and Antarctic Infrastructure Recapitalization ($24 million). This adjustment signifies NSF's attempt, within a limited total budget, to ensure investment in "hard" infrastructure and strategic technology areas critical to national competitiveness by compressing funding for some basic research.

Research security is another prominent theme in this budget request. NSF is expanding its research security strategy and policy capabilities to implement relevant provisions of the CHIPS and Science Act. Specific activities include supporting the "Securing America's Research Ecosystem" program and the "Research on Research Security" program, aimed at identifying and mitigating risks of foreign interference to protect U.S.-funded research endeavors. This reflects the deep concern in the United States regarding the vulnerabilities of its research system and intellectual property protection against the backdrop of intensifying global technological competition.

Additionally, the report includes several legally mandated authorization reports, such as the "Congressional Report on Computer Science Education Research" and the "EPSCoR Program Fiscal Year 2024 Report to Congress," providing detailed data on the performance and fund allocation of specific programs. The "CHIPS and Science Act Fiscal Year 2026 Spending Plan" specifies that $50 million will be allocated for microelectronics workforce development activities, directly serving the talent needs of the domestic semiconductor industry.

In summary, this budget request document is not merely a financial plan but a strategic declaration on how the United States intends to maintain its scientific and technological hegemony in the new era. It clearly reveals the trend of resources tilting towards areas deemed as "national critical technologies," such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, semiconductors, and biomanufacturing, and elevates research security to an unprecedented level. Its policy orientation and resource allocation logic hold significant reference value for understanding the future landscape of U.S. technological competition.