Government Relations & Washington Update

April 2024

President Biden Releases FY 2025 Budget

On March 11^th, President Biden released his FY 2025 Budget Request, kicking off the budget and appropriations process for the next fiscal year. The Office of Science and Technology Policy has outlined the research investments proposed in the budget across multiple federal agencies. The Budget includes $202 billion for federal research and development (R&D) to address a variety of priorities including:  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 would invest $99 billion in 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).

Highlighted priorities include:

• Advancing safe, secure, and trustworthy artificial intelligence - $1.6 billion in investments across the National Institutes of Health (NIH), $729 million for AI R&D at the National Science Foundation and $310 million for DARPA’s AI Forward initiative.
• Bolstering R&D for future economic competitiveness - $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. 
• Promoting better health outcomes for every person - $3.4 billion in R&D for Cancer Moonshot-related investments

• Maintaining global security and stability - $92.8 billion in Department of Defense (DOD) R&D to support the development of next-generation defense capabilities. 
• Tackling the climate crisis and environmental impacts - $10.7 billion in clean energy innovation activities and $4.5 billion in climate research activities, including efforts that advance the U.S. Global Change Research Program’s Decadal Strategic Plan.

Proposed Agricultural Research Funding in FY2025 Budget Request

The FY 2025 USDA Budget Request, released on March 11^th, includes $4 billion for the Department’s Research, Education and Economics Mission Area. The proposal would provide increases for the Economic Research Service and the National Agricultural Statistics Service, both of which received funding reductions in the FY 2024 appropriations process. Most NIFA accounts would be funded at FY 2024 levels, with the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) seeing at $30 million increase over FY 2024. Below is a summary of key REE accounts, plus the Office of the Chief Economist:

NIFA Publishes Helpful Hints for Funding Opportunities

On March 27^th, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) published a blog post to assist stakeholders with accessing NIFA funding opportunities. The article includes links and helpful hints for those interested in NIFA programs. Below are highlighted resources NIFA provides to assist stakeholders:

• Grants webpage - provides a general overview of NIFA’s grant process from applying, managing and closing a grant.
• Requests For Applications (RFAs) Calendar webpage - lists open, upcoming and closed funding opportunities.
• Events calendar – highlights upcoming events including technical assistance webinars.
• Grant writing tips and 20 tips for grant writing success – provide tips for effective grant writing.
• NIFA’s program by NPL page - houses a list of NIFA programs with their associated National Program Leader contacts.
• NIFA’s Application Status dashboard – allows for tracking grant applications.