About
12 February 2020
The Optical Society Expresses Disappointment in Funding Cuts to Science in U.S. President Trump’s FY2021 Budget Request
The Optical Society (OSA) is disappointed that President Trump’s FY2021 budget fails to provide sufficient funding to U.S. science agencies to accelerate the pace of basic and applied research.
The substantial funding cuts will put innovative research and the development of new technologies and industries at risk. The budget proposal includes significant cuts to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science compared to FY2020 funding levels.
“The U.S. President’s FY2021 budget sends a strong signal that the administration’s commitment to broadly advance research to address global challenges is lacking,” said Stephen Fantone, 2020 OSA President and president and founder of Optikos. “It is important for U.S. officials to recognize the necessity of greater federal investments in research to support groundbreaking discoveries and the development of new technologies, which support economic growth and innovative solutions.”
On the positive side, The Optical Society is appreciative that the budget includes an increase of more than 50 percent for quantum information science compared to FY2020 spending with funding expected to double by FY2022.
The increase is well above funding levels outlined in the 2018 National Quantum Initiative Act which provides $1.2 billion (USD) over five years for DOE, NIST and the National Science Foundation to advance quantum information science and education.
The global optics and photonics community will play a critical role in driving quantum research and technologies forward.
About The Optical Society
The Optical Society (OSA) is dedicated to promoting the generation, application, archiving, and dissemination of knowledge in optics and photonics worldwide. Founded in 1916, it is the leading organization for scientists, engineers, business professionals, students, and others interested in the science of light. OSA’s renowned publications, meetings, online resources, and in-person activities fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate scientific, technical, and educational achievement.
Media Contact
