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NASA Appropriations and Authorizations: A Fact Sheet

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NASA Appropriations and Authorizations: A Fact Sheet

Updated December 19, 2019February 10, 2020 (R43419)

Overview

Congressional deliberations about the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) often focus on the availability of funding. This fact sheet provides data on past and current NASA appropriations, as well as the President's budget request for FY2020 and congressional action on FY2020 appropriations and authorizations of appropriations. Through December 20, 2019, NASA is operating under a continuing resolution (P.L. 116-59 as amended by P.L. 116-69) at the FY2019 rate of fundingFY2021. It will be updated as warranted to reflect congressional action on FY2021 appropriations and authorizations of appropriations.

Table 1 shows appropriations for NASA from FY2014FY2015 through FY2019FY2020. The data for FY2014FY2015 through FY2018FY2019 include supplemental appropriations, rescissions, transfers, and reprogramming. They are taken from NASA's congressional budget justifications for FY2016FY2017 through FY2020FY2021.1 Congressional budget justifications are available on the NASA budget website (http://www.nasa.gov/news/budget/) for the current year and for past years back to FY2002. The data for FY2019FY2020 are as enacted by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 20192020 (P.L. 116-693). For amounts not specified in that act, see the explanatory statement in the Congressional Record, December 17, 2019. Table 2). For amounts not specified in that act, see the conference report, H.Rept. 116-9.

Table 2 shows FY2018 appropriations as enacted (i.e., without the supplemental appropriations and other adjustments reflected in Table 1); the Administration's request for FY2019; authorization and appropriations amounts for FY2019 that were proposed in legislation in the 115th and 116th Congresses; and the appropriations for FY2019 that were enacted in February 2019 in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (P.L. 116-6).

Table 3 shows FY2019 appropriations as enacted; the Administration's original request for FY2020 and its additional request in the May 2019 budget amendment; FY2020 appropriations proposed in the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020 (Division A of H.R. 3055 as passed by the House in June 2019 and as passed by the Senate in October 2019); FY2020 appropriations proposedenacted in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 1158 as passed by the House on December 17, 2019); and authorizations of FY2020 appropriations proposed in the NASA Authorization Act of 2019 (S. 2800).

Note that the Administration's budget requests for FY2019 and FY2020P.L. 116-93); and authorizations of FY2020 appropriations proposed in the NASA Authorization Act of 2020 (H.R. 5666) and the NASA Authorization Act of 2019 (S. 2800). Table 3 shows FY2020 appropriations as enacted and the Administration's request for FY2021. Additional information will be added when available. Authorizations for FY2021 are not included in H.R. 5666 or S. 2800. Note that the Administration's budget requests since FY2019 have proposed new names for some NASA accounts. In the enacted FY2019 appropriation, Education became Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Engagement. The Administration has also proposed renaming Space Technology as Exploration Technology; Exploration as Deep Space Exploration Systems; and Space Operations as Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Spaceflight Operations. The Administration's proposals would also transfer certain activities from Exploration to Space Technology, so the amounts shown for those items in Table 2 and Table 3 may represent somewhat different content in different columns.

Figure 1 shows NASA's total annual budget authority from the agency's establishment in FY1958 to FY2019FY2020, in both current dollars and inflation-adjusted FY2019FY2020 dollars.

For additional information on selected NASA programs, see also CRS In Focus IF10940, The James Webb Space Telescope; CRS In Focus IF10828, The International Space Station (ISS) and the Administration's Proposal to End Direct NASA Funding by 2025; and the discussion of NASA's use of commercial space capabilities in CRS Report R45416, Commercial Space: Federal Regulation, Oversight, and Utilization.

Table 1. NASA Appropriations, FY2014-FY2019

FY2015-FY2020

(budget authority in $ millions)

22,629a
 

FY2014

FY2015

FY2015

FY2016

FY2016

FY2017

FY2017

FY2018

FY2018

FY2019

FY2019

FY2020

Science

$5,148

243

$5,243

584

$5,584

762

$5,762

6,212

$6,212

887

$6,906

7,139a

Earth Science

1,825

784

1,784

927

1,927

908

1,908

921

1,921

931

1,931

972

Planetary Science

1,346

447

1,447

628

1,628

828

1,828

2,218

2,218

747

2,759

713

Astrophysics

678

731

731

762

762

783

783

850

850

1,191

1,192

306

James Webb Space Telescope

658

645

645

620

620

569

569

534

534

305

305

423

Heliophysics

641

636

636

647

647

675

675

689

689

713

720

725

Aeronautics

566

642

634

656

685

725

784

Space Technology

576

600

600

686

686

687

687

760

760

927

927

1,100

Exploration

4,113

3,543

3,543

996

3,996

4,324

4,324

790

4,790

5,045

5,051

6,018

Exploration Systems Development

3,115

212

3,212

641

3,641

929

3,929

4,395

4,395

087

4,093

583

Orion

1,197

190

1,190

270

1,270

330

1,330

350

1,350

1,350

407

Space Launch System

1,600

679

1,679

972

1,972

2,127

2,127

150

2,150

144

2,150

586

Exploration Ground Systems

318

343

399

472

895

593

Commercial Spaceflight

696

a

a

a

a

a

590

Exploration R&D

302

331

331

355

355

395

395

395

958

958

1,435

Space Operations

3,774

4,626

4,626

5,032

5,032

4,943

4,943

749

4,749

640

4,639

140

Space Shuttle

0

8

8

5

5

0

0

0

0

International Space Station

2,964

1,525

1,525

436

1,436

451

1,451

493

1,493

490

n/s

Space Transportation

b

2,254

2,254

668

2,668

589

2,589

346

2,346

110

n/s

Space and Flight Support

810

839

839

923

923

903

903

910

910

1,000

n/s

Commercial LEO Development

40

40

15

Education / STEM Engagement

117

119

119

115

115

100

100

100

110

110

120

Space Grant

40

40

40

40

40

44

44

48

EPSCoR

18

18

18

18

18

21

21

24

MUREP

30

32

32

32

32

32

33

33

36

Other

29

29

25

25

10

10

10

12

12

Safety, Security, & Mission Svcs.

2,793

755

2,755

772

2,772

769

2,769

827

2,827

755

2,755

913

Construction and EC&R

522

446

446

427

427

485b

485657c

657d

372

348

373

Inspector General

38

37

37

37

38

38

39

39

39

42

Total

17,647

18,010

19,285

19,762c

b

20,817d

c

21,500

Sources: FY2014-FY2018FY2015-FY2019 from NASA FY2016-FY2020FY2017-FY2021 congressional budget justifications. FY2019FY2020 from P.L. 116-693 and explanatory statement, Congressional Record, December 17, 2019, pp. H10969-H10971 and H.Rept. 116-9.

Notes: Some totals may not add because of rounding. R&D = Research and Development. LEO = Low Earth Orbit. STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. EPSCoR = Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. MUREP = Minority University Research and Education Program. EC&R = Environmental Compliance and Remediation. n/s = not specified.

a. Included in Space Transportation under Space Operations.

b. Commercial Crew funded under Exploration. Remainder of Space Transportation included in International Space Station.

cNot adjusted to reflect rescission of $70 million from prior year unobligated balances (Section 521(c)). b. Includes $109 million in additional emergency funding from Section 540 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31) that is not shown in the NASA FY2019 congressional budget justification.

dc. Includes $81 million in supplemental emergency funding from the Further Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2018 (Division B of P.L. 115-123) that is not shown in the NASA FY2020 congressional budget justification.

Table 2. NASA Appropriations and Authorizations, FY2019

FY2020

(budget authority in $ millions)

Enacted

 

 

FY2019FY2020 Appropriations

FY2019 AuthFY2020 Auths.

 

FY2018
FY2019Enacted

Original Request

House
(115th)

Senate
(115th)

Enacted (116th)

Budget Amdt.

House

Senate

House
(115th)

Senate
(115th)

Science

$6,222

906

$5,895

6,304

+$90

$6,681

7,161

$6,400

906

$6,906

7,139

$6,624

7,139

$6,400

906

Earth Science

1,921

931

1,784

780  

1,900

2,023

1,931

945

1,931

972

1,921

972

n/s

Planetary Science

2,228

759

2,235

622  

2,759

713

2,202

631

2,759

713

2,637

713

n/s

Astrophysics

850

1,192

1,185

845  

1,029

368

1,243

172

1,192

306

1,375

306

n/s

James Webb Space Telescope

534

305

a

353  

305

353

305

423

305

423

423

n/s

Heliophysics

689

720

691

705  

689

705

720

735

720

725

691

725

n/s

Aeronautics

685

725

634

667  

715

700

725

784

725

784

685

784

725

784

Space Tech. / Exploration Tech.

760

927

1,003

014

900

+132

933

1,292

927

1,076

1,018

100

1,003

100

1,076

Exploration / Deep Sp. Exp. Sys.

4,790

5,051

4,559

5,022

5,084

+1,375

5,339

130

5,051

6,223

4,929

6,018

5,339

6,018

6,223

Exploration Systems Development

4,395

093

3,670

442  

4,045

168

4,295

583

4,093

583

4,040

583

n/s

Orion

1,350

1,164

266  

1,350

425

1,350

407

1,350

407

1,350

407

n/s

Space Launch System

2,150

2,078

1,775  

2,150

2,150

586

2,150

586

2,150

586

n/s

Exploration Ground Systems

895

593

428

400  

545

593

795

590

593

590

540

590

n/s

Exploration R&D

395

958

889

1,580  

1,039

962

1,044

640

958

1,435

889

1,435

n/s

Space Ops. Ops. / LEO and Spflt. Ops.

4,752

639

4,625

286  

4,625

286

4,639

150

4,639

140

4,625

140

4,639

150

International Space Station

n/s

1,462

458  

n/s

n/s

n/s

1,462

n/s

n/s

Space Transportation

n/s

2,109

1,829  

n/s

2,109

n/s

n/s

2,109

n/s

n/s

Space and Flight Support

n/s

904

849  

n/s

n/s

n/s

904

n/s

n/s

Commercial LEO Development

40

150

150

 

n/s

40

15

40

15

150

n/s

n/s

Education / STEM Engagement

100

110

0

 

90

124

110

112

110

120

108

120

100

112

Space Grant

40

44

0

 

40

49

44

47

44

48

40

48

n/s

EPSCoR

18

21

0

 

18

25

21

22

21

24

18

24

n/s

MUREP

32

33

0

 

32

37

33

33

36

n/s

36

n/s

Other

10

12

0

 

0

13

12

10

12

n/s

12

n/s

Safety, Security, & Mission Svcs.

2,827

755

2,750

3,085  

2,850

3,085

2,750

935

2,755

913

2,750

913

2,850

935

Construction and EC&R

562

348

388

600  

562

497

388

524

348

373

438

373

451

524

Inspector General

39

39

42  

39

42

39

40

39

42

39

42

39

40

Total

20,736

21,500

21,019

19,892

+1,597

21,546

22,316

21,323

22,750

21,500

22,629

21,215

22,629

21,546

22,750

Sources: FY2018FY2019 enacted from P.L. 115-141 and explanatory statement, Congressional Record, March 22, 2018, pp. H2094-H2096.116-6 and H.Rept. 116-9. Original Request from FY2019FY2020 NASA congressional budget justification. House (115th Congress) from H.R. 5952 as reported and H.Rept. 115-704. Senate (115th Congress) from S. 3072 as reported and S.Rept. 115-275; H.R. 21 as passed by the House would have provided the same amounts. Enacted from P.L. 116-6 and H.Rept. 116-9; H.R. 648 as passed by the House would have provided the same amounts. Authorizations from H.R. 5503 (115th Congress) as reported and S. 3799 (115th Congress) as introduced.

Budget Amendment from Estimate #1, May 13, 2019, https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/FY20_Budget_Amendment_5-13-19.pdf. House from H.R. 3055 as passed by the House (June 2019) and H.Rept. 116-101. Senate from H.R. 3055 as passed by the Senate (October 2019) and S.Rept. 116-127. Enacted from P.L. 116-93 and explanatory statement, Congressional Record, December 17, 2019, pp. H10969-H10971. House authorization from H.R. 5666 as introduced. Senate authorization from S. 2800 as introduced.

Notes: Some totals may not add because of rounding. R&D = Research and Development. LEO = Low Earth Orbit. STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. EPSCoR = Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. MUREP = Minority University Research and Education Program. EC&R = Environmental Compliance and Remediation. n/s = not specified. See text for name changes and variations in program content.

a. $305 million included in Astrophysics.

The budget amendment does not provide a further breakdown of the additional requested amounts.

Table 3. NASA Appropriations and Authorizations, FY2020

FY2021

(budget authority in $ millions)

 

 

FY2020FY2021 Appropriations

FY2020 Auth.

 

FY2019
FY2020Enacted

Original Request

Budget Amdt.

House

Senate

Consol-idated

Senate

Enacted

Science

$6,906

$6,304

+$90

7,139a

$7,161

6,307

$6,906

$7,139

$6,906

     

Earth Science

1,931

972

1,780

768
 

2,023

1,945

1,972

n/s

   

Planetary Science

2,759

713

2,622

660
 

2,713

2,631

2,713

n/s

   

Astrophysics

1,192

306

845

831
 

1,368

1,172

1,306

n/s

   

James Webb Space Telescope

305

423

353

415
 

353

 

423

423

n/s

 

Heliophysics

720

725

705

633
 

705

735

725

n/s

   

Aeronautics

725

784

667

819
 

700

784

784

784

   

Space Tech. / Exploration Tech.

927

1,014

+132

1,100

1,292

578

1,076

1,100

1,076

     

Exploration / Deep Sp. Exp. Sys.

5,051

5,022

6,018

+1,375

8,762      

5,130

6,223

6,018

6,223

Exploration Systems Development

4,093

3,442

 

583

4,168

042

4,583

4,583

n/s

     

Orion

1,350

407

1,266

401
 

1,425

1,407

1,407

n/s

   

Space Launch System

2,150

1,775

 

586

2,150

257

2,586

2,586

n/s

     

Exploration Ground Systems

593

590

400

385
 

593

590

590

n/s

   

Exploration R&D

958

1,580

 

1,435

962

4,719

1,640

1,435

n/s

     

Space Ops. / LEO and Spflt. Ops.

4,639

140

4,286

187
 

4,286

4,150

4,140

4,150

   

International Space Station

n/s

1,458

401
 

n/s

n/s

n/s

n/s

   

Space Transportation

n/s

1,829

878
 

n/s

n/s

n/s

n/s

   

Space and Flight Support

n/s

849

759
 

n/s

n/s

n/s

n/s

   

Commercial LEO Development

40

15

150

 

n/s

15

15

n/s

   

STEM Engagement

110

120

0

 

124

112

120

 

112

 

Space Grant

44

48

0

 

49

47

48

n/s

   

EPSCoR

21

24

0

 

25

 

22

24

n/s

 

MUREP

33

36

0

 

37

33

36

n/s

   

Other

12

0

 

13

10

12

n/s

   

Safety, Security, & Mission Svcs.

2,755

913

3,085

010
 

3,085

2,935

2,913

2,935

   

Construction and EC&R

348

373

600

539
 

497

524

373

 

524

 

Inspector General

39

42

 

42

42

44

40

 

42

 

40

 

Total

21,500

21,019

22,629a

+1,597

25,246      

22,316

22,750

22,629

22,750

Sources: FY2019FY2020 enacted from P.L. 116-693 and explanatory statement, Congressional Record, December 17, 2019, pp. H10969-H10971. Request from FY2021 NASA congressional budget justification. and H.Rept. 116-9. Original Request from FY2020 NASA congressional budget justification. Budget Amendment from Estimate #1, May 13, 2019, https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/FY20_Budget_Amendment_5-13-19.pdf. House from H.R. 3055 as passed by the House (June 2019) and H.Rept. 116-101. Senate from H.R. 3055 as passed by the Senate (October 2019) and S.Rept. 116-127. Consolidated from H.R. 1158 as passed by the House (December 2019) and explanatory statement, https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20191216/BILLS-116HR1158SA-JES-DIVISION-B.pdf. Senate authorization from S. 2800 as introduced.

Notes: Some totals may not add because of rounding. R&D = Research and Development. LEO = Low Earth Orbit. EPSCoR = Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. MUREP = Minority University Research and Education Program. EC&R = Environmental Compliance and Remediation. n/s = not specified. See text for name changes and variations in program content. The budget amendment does not provide a further breakdown of the additional requested amounts.

a. Not adjusted to reflect rescission of $70 million from prior year unobligated balances (Section 521(c)).

Figure 1. NASA Funding, FY1958-FY2019

FY2020

Source: Compiled by CRS. FY1958-FY2008 from National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Aeronautics and Space Report of the President: Fiscal Year 2008 Activities, http://history.nasa.gov/presrep2008.pdf, Table D-1A. FY2009-FY2012FY2014 from NASA congressional budget justifications, FY2011-FY2014. FY2013-FY2019FY2016. FY2015-FY2020 as in Table 1. Current dollars deflated to FY2019FY2020 dollars using GDP (chained) price index from President's budget for FY2019FY2021, Historical Table 10.1, https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/hist10z1-fy2019.xlsxomb/historical-tables/.

Note: Transition quarter between FY1976 and FY1977 not shown.

Author Contact Information

Daniel Morgan, Specialist in Science and Technology Policy ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])

Footnotes

1.

FY2016, FY2017, and FY2019 and FY2017 Education and STEM Engagement amounts are not shown in the FY2018, FY2019, and FY2021 and FY2019 congressional budget justifications and are instead taken from the explanatory statement for the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (P.L. 114-113), Congressional Record, December 17, 2015, pp. H9741-H9743, and; the explanatory statement for the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31), Congressional Record, May 3, 2017, pp. H3374-H3375; and the explanatory statement for the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-93), Congressional Record, December 17, 2019, pp. H10969-H10971.