US science agencies dodge deep cuts

摘要

The most fractious and combative US Congress in recent memory is getting on with approving a 2012 budget -although perhaps only so that it can move more swiftly to the next battlefield. On 17 November, legislators passed a spending bill that includes allocations for several key science-related agencies. The bill has since been signed off by President Barack Obama. The budget was a relief for researchers and their advocates, who had feared deeper cuts to science. Under the provisions of the bill, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) all received modest increases (see table).