Congress wrapped up its funding for the federal government for fiscal year 2022 in March, the sixth month of the fiscal year. With the Biden administration releasing its fiscal year 2023 within a few weeks, Congress had to almost immediately start the process again. The National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation both received 4 percent increases. Several statistical agencies also received 3–6 percent increases.
ERS
Biden Administration’s First Budget Request Favors NIH, NSF; Flat Funds Education, Energy, Health, Justice Statistics
The Biden administration’s fiscal year 2022 (FY22) budget request sends a strong signal for its support of research funding, proposing 20 percent increases for the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation. Many of the federal statistical agencies also see strong support through increases of 5–10 percent.
FY21 Federal Budget Finalized
![Figure 1 shows the budgets of the seven mid-sized statistical agencies normalized to their FY09 levels, along with the GDP deflator to account for inflation. Budget restructuring for ERS in FY15 and ORES in FY19 are accounted for in the graph to allow for comparison over this time period. One-time moving costs in FY16 for BEA are also omitted. [Key: BEA, Bureau of Economic Analysis; BJS, Bureau of Justice Statistics; BTS, Bureau of Transportation Statistics; ERS, USDA Economic Research Service; NCSES, NSF National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics; ORES, Social Security Administration Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics; SOI, IRS Statistics of Income Division]](https://magazine.amstat.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/FY_Figure1_-150x150.jpg)
The NIH, NSF, and several federal statistical agencies received increases, but many are facing fiscal challenges after years of purchasing power loss.
Meet Spiro Stefanou, Head of the Economic Research Service
Spiro Stefanou has been the administrator of the Economic Research Service at the US Department of Agriculture since August 2020. He provides leadership and guidance for the agency research, analytical, and technical operations.
COVID-19 and the Federal Statistical Agencies: Effects and Reactions
While all the principal federal statistical agencies have efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic, this article highlights several related to the economy, health, and transportation.
Why Would USDA Shoot Itself in the Foot?
Katherine Smith Evans wonders why the USDA wouldn’t want to be able to evaluate its own nutrition assistance, trade, rural development, and other critical programs.
Census-FNS-ERS Partnership Delivers Unique Products by Leveraging Data
Two statistical agencies—the US Census Bureau and US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Economic Research Service (ERS)—have formed a strategic partnership with USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), which administers USDA’s food and nutrition assistance programs.
FY17 Requests for NIH, NSF, Federal Statistical Agencies Largely Positive
President Barack Obama’s requested budget for Fiscal Year 2017 maintains his record of proposing generally healthy increases for the NIH, NSF, and many federal statistical agencies, but realizing increases of any amount will be challenging.
Meet Economic Research Service Administrator Mary Bohman
Amstat News invited Mary Bohman of the Economic Research Service to respond to a few questions so readers can learn more about her and the agency she leads.
World Statistics Day
In celebration of World Statistics Day, Amstat News asked staff from several federal statistical agencies to provide a list of their agency’s accomplishments, both recent and historical. Documented here is a rich history of providing statistical data that informs policymaking in the public and private sectors, resulting in economic development and smarter, more effective government. Also documented is a commitment to innovation and adaptation that has kept federal statistical products current and reliable.