ASBMB statement on Biden's budget request for fiscal year 2025

While the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology appreciates the key scientific priorities outlined by President Joe Biden in his budget request for fiscal year 2025, we urge the administration to support sustained, predictable budget increases for the federal agencies that are laying the foundation for the thriving, innovative U.S. research enterprise. 

Biden has requested $48.6 billion for the National Institutes of Health base budget, an increase of $920 million above FY23 (FY24 has not yet been enacted by Congress). This marginal increase is damaging to the vitality and longevity of the U.S. research enterprise. An increase of just 1.8% will force federally funded scientists across the country to make tough choices when it comes to funding their staff further constrain the foundational scientific research they conduct. This minimal increase also will do little to persuade the next generation of scientists from pursuing careers in discovery research.  

The ASBMB applauds the Biden administration for requesting $10.2 billion for the National Science Foundation, an increase of 644 million, or 6.8%m over the agency’s FY23 budget. However, a significant portion of the increase is allocated for NSF's translational research activities. The ASBMB encourages the administration to ensure that all of NSF’s research activities are supported, especially fundamental research.  

Lastly, the administration demonstrated its strong support for the Department of Energy by requesting an increase of 4% to $8.58 billion for the Office of Science. This increase would allow for meaningful growth in scientific outputs funded by the DOE.  

We urge the administration to advocate for meaningful growth of all key federal science agencies. The U.S. research enterprise is facing many financial constraints, such as the rising cost of conducting scientific research and the need to increase pay for postdoctoral researchers and students. Federal grants and agency budgets must grow to accommodate these increasing expenses so we can continue supporting the talent that scientists and students bring to the U.S. bioeconomy.