FY 2025: Presidential Budget Request Summary

Credit: NIST

The President’s Budget Request for NIST totals $1.5 billion in FY 2025. With the requested funds, NIST will be positioned to lead U.S. science and technology innovation through dedicated investment in NIST measurement science; drive discoveries and standards development in critical and emerging technologies; strengthen U.S. manufacturing and supply chains; and address urgent capital facility needs on the NIST campuses.

The President’s FY 2025 Budget Request for NIST is an increase of $38.5 million over FY 2024 enacted levels to address urgent facilities needs, grow funding for critical mission areas, and fully fund inflationary adjustments to current programs. A 2.6% increase from the FY 2024 enacted level positions NIST to address priorities in meeting the national need for artificial intelligence (AI) research, testing and standards; advancing quantum information science and technology readiness; and taking the first steps toward addressing maintenance backlogs and facilities revitalization.
 

Budget Summary

(Dollars in millions)

* Includes three STRS sub-accounts: Laboratory Programs, Corporate Services, and Standards Coordination & Special Programs. 
** Excludes one-time supplemental funds.

Scientific and Technical Research and Services (STRS)

The FY 2025 budget includes new efforts to ensure U.S. leadership in key national priority areas:

• Advance AI Research, Standards and Testing to Meet National Needs, +$47.7 million: Invest in the United States AI Safety Institute and expand upon Executive Order 14110 to:
  • Conduct AI research to build the science necessary for safe development and responsible use of AI. 
  • Establish testing infrastructure and advance methods to create benchmarks and measurements for AI system evaluation.
  • Develop technical guidance and facilitate the development of standards to measure and manage AI risks and enable responsible innovation.
  • Implement best practices and frameworks to support organizations in measuring AI risks and impacts.
• Advance Quantum Information Science and Technology Readiness, +$13.9 million: NIST will enhance quantum technology research in critical technologies to support the nascent U.S. quantum industry by:
  • Identifying and resisting quantum threats with tools such as post-quantum cryptography (PQC).
  • Developing metrology for large-scale quantum systems.
  • Identifying and mitigating limiting factors for high-performance quantum components.
  • Training a quantum-ready workforce.
  • Ensuring a leadership role in global quantum standards development.

Construction of Research Facilities (CRF)

Without significant investment in world-class research and development facilities, NIST — and more importantly, our nation — will be left behind and unable to compete with our adversaries in areas from AI to quantum science and beyond. Additionally, aging facility systems present safety concerns. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine estimates that “about 63% of NIST research facilities [are] failing to meet federally established standards for acceptable building conditions.”

The FY 2025 budget request includes $311.5 million to address NIST facilities needs and the most critical utility infrastructure issues.

• Construction and Major Renovations, +$178.3 million: to modernize the Radiation Physics building to support critical measurements. The Radiation Physics building is a one-stop shop for reliable radiation measurements to support national security, health care, energy and research, including ensuring the accuracy of radiation doses used in every mammogram conducted in the country.
• Safety, Capacity, Maintenance and Major Repairs, +$45.4 million: to improve safety, repair and revitalize facilities, address maintenance backlogs, and prevent further loss of facilities and equipment. Funds would also help to modernize IT networking infrastructure to deliver the speed, reliability and capacity needed to meet future data and computing demands, particularly for AI, biotechnology, quantum information science and advanced communications.

Industrial Technology Services (ITS)

NIST’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and Manufacturing USA are unique public-private programs that increase the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers.

• Manufacturing USA: The FY 2025 budget request for $37 million will help to accelerate the dissemination of technology and workforce skills from Manufacturing USA institutes to U.S. production via merit-based investments in industry test beds across the institute network. This funding would support the new AI-focused institute and the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL).
• Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership: With the $175 million in funding requested, MEP will continue to help narrow the workforce gap; mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities with the recently established National Supply Chain Optimization and Intelligence Network; and provide critical cybersecurity training and both technical assistance and support for adoption of advanced manufacturing practices.