National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics | NSF 26-309 Table 4. Federal budget authority for basic research, by budget function, ordered by FY 2024 R&D and R&D plant total: FYs 2024–26 (Millions of dollars and percent change) Budget function 2024 actual ($millions) 2025 preliminarya ($millions) 2026 proposed ($millions) 2024–25 (% change) 2025–26 (% change) All functions conducting R&D 44,942 44,686 29,533 -0.6 -33.9 National defense 2,820 2,715 2,263 -3.7 -16.7 Health 22,734 22,421 14,158 -1.4 -36.9 General science and basic research 12,140 12,216 8,121 0.6 -33.5 Space flight, research, and supporting activities 4,344 4,414 2,564 1.6 -41.9 Energy 27 11 12 -57.6 4.9 Natural resources and environment 40 40 15 0.0 -62.5 Agriculture 1,388 1,421 1,069 2.4 -24.8 Commerce and housing credit 314 260 210 -17.2 -19.2 Transportation 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 Veterans benefits and services 765 818 823 6.9 0.6 Education, training, employment, and social services 351 351 283 0.0 -19.4 Administration of justice 17 16 13 -5.9 -18.8 International affairs 2 2 2 0.0 0.0 Income security 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 Community and regional development 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 Medicare 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 a The preliminary data available from the agencies for FY 2025 at the time of this report reflect mainly the annualized continuing resolution funding levels that existed through early March 2025, which were later extended by a continuing resolution to the end of FY 2025. Note(s): Detail may not add to total because of rounding. Percent change is calculated on unrounded data. Source(s): Agencies' submissions to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) per MAX Schedule C, agencies' budget justification documents, supplemental data obtained from agencies' budget offices, and Executive Office of the President, OMB, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2026.