Lawmakers boost funding for NIST after proposed cuts

Congressional appropriators are looking to maintain, and in some cases increase, the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s work in areas like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum research.

The appropriations agreement released by House and Senate negotiators this week would include $1.8 billion for NIST, instead of funding cuts for the agency proposed by the Trump administration. The “minibus” appropriations package rejected many of the administration’s proposed budget cuts and limited agency reorganizations.

The agreement includes $1.25 billion for NIST’s research and services division, more than $542 million above the Trump administration’s request. The White House had proposed cutting NIST funding and positions in areas like cybersecurity and privacy; health and biological systems measurements; and physical infrastructure and resilience.

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