National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) FY2025 Budget Request and Appropriations
link to page 1 link to page 1 
May 13, 2024
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
FY2025 Budget Request and Appropriations
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Figure 1. ORF and PAC Annual Direct Obligations,
(NOAA) is an agency in the Department of Commerce
FY2015-FY2025
whose mission is to understand and predict changes in
($ in bil ions, nominal and adjusted)
climate, weather, oceans, and coasts; share that information;
and conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems
and resources. NOAA’s work is divided among six line
offices: National Environmental Satellite, Data, and
Information Service (NESDIS); National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS); National Ocean Service (NOS); National
Weather Service (NWS); Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research (OAR); and Office of Marine and
Aviation Operations (OMAO). NOAA’s Mission Support
provides planning, leadership, finances, information
technology, educational programming, and other support
across the line offices.
Congress has provided NOAA with annual mandatory and
discretionary appropriations. Mandatory appropriations,
which generally comprise a small percentage of total
NOAA funding, are disbursed to various accounts that
support programs in NOS, NMFS, and OMAO. NOAA’s
discretionary appropriations typically are included in the
annual Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
appropriations act. Discretionary appropriations support
two broad accounts—Operations, Research, and Facilities
(ORF) and Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction
Sources: CRS, from NOAA budget justifications, congressional
(PAC)—as well as a few smaller accounts. This product
explanatory statements, and Office of Management and Budget,
focuses on the Administration’s request for NOAA’s
Historical Tables, Table 10.1.
FY2025 discretionary funding for ORF and PAC. It
Notes: See text for abbreviations. Figure does not include
describes some of NOAA’s proposed changes in the
supplemental appropriations. Direct obligations include
FY2025 budget request, including to NOAA’s NESDIS,
appropriations, transfers, and recoveries from prior year obligations.
NOS, and OAR line office activities.
Supplemental Appropriations Available in FY2025
Agency Funding
Congress provided supplemental appropriations to NOAA
NOAA requested over $6.9 billion in discretionary direct
for ORF and PAC that are available in FY2025. According
obligations for ORF and PAC for FY2025, including
to NOAA, the following amounts are available in FY2025:
almost $6.5 billion in appropriations (Figure 1). NOAA
• $515.6 million for restoration, observation, modeling,
requested a total of $7.1 billion in direct obligations for all
forecasting activities, and other purposes (provided
accounts. Direct obligations include annual appropriations,
under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [IIJA];
transfers, and recoveries from prior year obligations. The
P.L. 117-58);
request is $129.0 million above the FY2025 base level and
$175.1 million over the FY2024 enacted amount. NOAA
• $330.0 million for conservation, restoration, protection,
calculated the FY2025 base level as equal to the FY2024
construction, reviews, research and forecasting,
Annualized Continuing Resolution (P.L. 118-40) amount
computing, aircraft acquisition, and other purposes
plus expected “Adjustments-To-Base,” such as certain
(provided under P.L. 117-169, known as the Inflation
inflationary adjustments. Proposed changes to the base level
Reduction Act of 2022 [IRA]); and
reflect Administration priorities. For FY2024, Congress
• $34.0 million for fishing gear and techniques, aircraft
provided $6.7 billion in annual ORF and PAC discretionary
acquisition, and other uses (provided under P.L. 117-
direct obligations (Figure 1). Congress also has provided
NOAA with supplemental appropriations available to the
328).
agency in FY2025; these are described in the following
section.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
link to page 2
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) FY2025 Budget Request and Appropriations
Figure 2. NOAA Annual ORF and PAC Discretionary Direct Obligations ($ in bil ions, nominal)
Figure is interactive in the HTML version of this In Focus
Source: CRS using NOAA, Budget Estimates Fiscal Year 2025, Congressional Submission and explanatory statement accompanying P.L. 118-42.
Notes: See text for abbreviations. NOAA released its FY2025 budget request prior to final enactment of FY2024 funding levels. NOAA
calculated the FY2025 base level as equal to the FY2024 Annualized Continuing Resolution (P.L.118-40) amount plus expected “Adjustments-
To-Base,” such as certain inflationary adjustments.
Total Direct Obligations, or total program or funding levels, include annual appropriations, transfers, and recoveries from prior year obligations
but exclude any supplemental appropriations
Issues for Congress
Ocean Observing System regional observations by $32.5
NOAA requested changes across the agency for FY2025,
million ($42.5 million FY2024 enacted; $42.5 million
with the largest funding changes in the NESDIS, OAR, and
FY2025 base level) and NOS competitive research grants
NOS line offices (Figure 2) in comparison to the FY2024
by $17.5 million ($20.0 million FY2024 enacted; $22.5
enacted level and FY2025 base level. NOAA requested
million FY2025 base level). NOAA requested some of the
smaller changes for the other line offices, including
changes to support “other NOAA and Administration
decreases for NMFS and increases for NWS, OMAO, and
priorities.” NOAA plans to use funds from IIJA and IRA
Mission Support.
for some of the NOS activities (e.g., $232.5 million of IIJA
funds are provided for NOS in FY2025).
NESDIS Changes
NOAA requested $2.1 billion for NESDIS in FY2025,
OAR Changes
$341.3 million above the FY2024 enacted amount and
NOAA requested $645.7 million for OAR in FY2025,
$423.4 million above the FY2025 base level. The request
$80.3 million below the FY2024 enacted amount and
includes increases from the FY2025 base level for the Polar
$142.5 million below the FY2025 base level. Broadly,
Weather Satellites (PWS), which provide global
NOAA’s proposed changes would decrease or terminate
meteorological observations for short- and midterm
funding for nonfederal grants and cooperative agreements.
forecasts and weather warnings, and Geostationary Earth
The largest proposed changes would terminate funding for
Observations (GEO), which provide space-based
CPF/CDS ($19.2 million FY2024 enacted; $20.8 million
environmental monitoring. NOAA requested $342.4 million
FY2025 base level) and the acquisition of phased array
for FY2025 ($342.4 million FY2024 enacted; $183.5
radar (acquired via FY2023-FY2024 funds). NOAA also
million FY2025 base level) for PWS and $798.4 million
requested to decrease or terminate funding for several
($285.0 million FY2024 enacted; $285.0 million FY2025
nonfederal grant programs, including decreasing ocean
base level) for GEO programs.
exploration and research by $21 million ($46.0 million
FY2024 enacted; $46.4 million FY2025 base level) and
NOS Changes
terminating Sea Grant aquaculture research ($14.0 million
NOAA requested $590.7 million for NOS in FY2025, $93.3
FY2024 enacted; $14.0 million FY2025 base level).
million below the FY2024 enacted amount and $148.8
According to NOAA, some of the changes are to support
million below the FY2025 base level. Broadly, NOAA’s
“other NOAA and Administration priorities.” NOAA plans
proposed changes would decrease or terminate funding for
to use funds from IIJA and IRA to fund some of the OAR
nonfederal grants and cooperative agreements. The largest
activities (e.g., $36.6 million of IIJA funds are provided for
changes would include terminating Community Project
OAR in FY2025).
Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending (CPF/CDS;
$54.6 million FY2024 enacted; $37.7 million FY2025 base
Eva Lipiec, Specialist in Natural Resource Policy
level) and base funding for the National Coastal Resilience
IF12667
Fund ($32.0 million FY2024 enacted; $34.0 million
FY2025 base level) and decreasing funding for Integrated
https://crsreports.congress.gov
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) FY2025 Budget Request and Appropriations
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12667 · VERSION 1 · NEW
May 13, 2024
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
FY2025 Budget Request and Appropriations
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Figure 1. ORF and PAC Annual Direct Obligations,
(NOAA) is an agency in the Department of Commerce
FY2015-FY2025
whose mission is to understand and predict changes in
($ in bil ions, nominal and adjusted)
climate, weather, oceans, and coasts; share that information;
and conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems
and resources. NOAA’s work is divided among six line
offices: National Environmental Satellite, Data, and
Information Service (NESDIS); National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS); National Ocean Service (NOS); National
Weather Service (NWS); Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research (OAR); and Office of Marine and
Aviation Operations (OMAO). NOAA’s Mission Support
provides planning, leadership, finances, information
technology, educational programming, and other support
across the line offices.
Congress has provided NOAA with annual mandatory and
discretionary appropriations. Mandatory appropriations,
which generally comprise a small percentage of total
NOAA funding, are disbursed to various accounts that
support programs in NOS, NMFS, and OMAO. NOAA’s
discretionary appropriations typically are included in the
annual Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
appropriations act. Discretionary appropriations support
two broad accounts—Operations, Research, and Facilities
(ORF) and Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction
Sources: CRS, from NOAA budget justifications, congressional
(PAC)—as well as a few smaller accounts. This product
explanatory statements, and Office of Management and Budget,
focuses on the Administration’s request for NOAA’s
Historical Tables, Table 10.1.
FY2025 discretionary funding for ORF and PAC. It
Notes: See text for abbreviations. Figure does not include
describes some of NOAA’s proposed changes in the
supplemental appropriations. Direct obligations include
FY2025 budget request, including to NOAA’s NESDIS,
appropriations, transfers, and recoveries from prior year obligations.
NOS, and OAR line office activities.
Supplemental Appropriations Available in FY2025
Agency Funding
Congress provided supplemental appropriations to NOAA
NOAA requested over $6.9 billion in discretionary direct
for ORF and PAC that are available in FY2025. According
obligations for ORF and PAC for FY2025, including
to NOAA, the following amounts are available in FY2025:
almost $6.5 billion in appropriations (Figure 1). NOAA
• $515.6 million for restoration, observation, modeling,
requested a total of $7.1 billion in direct obligations for all
forecasting activities, and other purposes (provided
accounts. Direct obligations include annual appropriations,
under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [IIJA];
transfers, and recoveries from prior year obligations. The
P.L. 117-58);
request is $129.0 million above the FY2025 base level and
$175.1 million over the FY2024 enacted amount. NOAA
• $330.0 million for conservation, restoration, protection,
calculated the FY2025 base level as equal to the FY2024
construction, reviews, research and forecasting,
Annualized Continuing Resolution (P.L. 118-40) amount
computing, aircraft acquisition, and other purposes
plus expected “Adjustments-To-Base,” such as certain
(provided under P.L. 117-169, known as the Inflation
inflationary adjustments. Proposed changes to the base level
Reduction Act of 2022 [IRA]); and
reflect Administration priorities. For FY2024, Congress
• $34.0 million for fishing gear and techniques, aircraft
provided $6.7 billion in annual ORF and PAC discretionary
acquisition, and other uses (provided under P.L. 117-
direct obligations (Figure 1). Congress also has provided
NOAA with supplemental appropriations available to the
328).
agency in FY2025; these are described in the following
section.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
link to page 2
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) FY2025 Budget Request and Appropriations
Figure 2. NOAA Annual ORF and PAC Discretionary Direct Obligations ($ in bil ions, nominal)
Figure is interactive in the HTML version of this In Focus
Source: CRS using NOAA, Budget Estimates Fiscal Year 2025, Congressional Submission and explanatory statement accompanying P.L. 118-42.
Notes: See text for abbreviations. NOAA released its FY2025 budget request prior to final enactment of FY2024 funding levels. NOAA
calculated the FY2025 base level as equal to the FY2024 Annualized Continuing Resolution (P.L.118-40) amount plus expected “Adjustments-
To-Base,” such as certain inflationary adjustments.
Total Direct Obligations, or total program or funding levels, include annual appropriations, transfers, and recoveries from prior year obligations
but exclude any supplemental appropriations
Issues for Congress
Ocean Observing System regional observations by $32.5
NOAA requested changes across the agency for FY2025,
million ($42.5 million FY2024 enacted; $42.5 million
with the largest funding changes in the NESDIS, OAR, and
FY2025 base level) and NOS competitive research grants
NOS line offices (Figure 2) in comparison to the FY2024
by $17.5 million ($20.0 million FY2024 enacted; $22.5
enacted level and FY2025 base level. NOAA requested
million FY2025 base level). NOAA requested some of the
smaller changes for the other line offices, including
changes to support “other NOAA and Administration
decreases for NMFS and increases for NWS, OMAO, and
priorities.” NOAA plans to use funds from IIJA and IRA
Mission Support.
for some of the NOS activities (e.g., $232.5 million of IIJA
funds are provided for NOS in FY2025).
NESDIS Changes
NOAA requested $2.1 billion for NESDIS in FY2025,
OAR Changes
$341.3 million above the FY2024 enacted amount and
NOAA requested $645.7 million for OAR in FY2025,
$423.4 million above the FY2025 base level. The request
$80.3 million below the FY2024 enacted amount and
includes increases from the FY2025 base level for the Polar
$142.5 million below the FY2025 base level. Broadly,
Weather Satellites (PWS), which provide global
NOAA’s proposed changes would decrease or terminate
meteorological observations for short- and midterm
funding for nonfederal grants and cooperative agreements.
forecasts and weather warnings, and Geostationary Earth
The largest proposed changes would terminate funding for
Observations (GEO), which provide space-based
CPF/CDS ($19.2 million FY2024 enacted; $20.8 million
environmental monitoring. NOAA requested $342.4 million
FY2025 base level) and the acquisition of phased array
for FY2025 ($342.4 million FY2024 enacted; $183.5
radar (acquired via FY2023-FY2024 funds). NOAA also
million FY2025 base level) for PWS and $798.4 million
requested to decrease or terminate funding for several
($285.0 million FY2024 enacted; $285.0 million FY2025
nonfederal grant programs, including decreasing ocean
base level) for GEO programs.
exploration and research by $21 million ($46.0 million
FY2024 enacted; $46.4 million FY2025 base level) and
NOS Changes
terminating Sea Grant aquaculture research ($14.0 million
NOAA requested $590.7 million for NOS in FY2025, $93.3
FY2024 enacted; $14.0 million FY2025 base level).
million below the FY2024 enacted amount and $148.8
According to NOAA, some of the changes are to support
million below the FY2025 base level. Broadly, NOAA’s
“other NOAA and Administration priorities.” NOAA plans
proposed changes would decrease or terminate funding for
to use funds from IIJA and IRA to fund some of the OAR
nonfederal grants and cooperative agreements. The largest
activities (e.g., $36.6 million of IIJA funds are provided for
changes would include terminating Community Project
OAR in FY2025).
Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending (CPF/CDS;
$54.6 million FY2024 enacted; $37.7 million FY2025 base
Eva Lipiec, Specialist in Natural Resource Policy
level) and base funding for the National Coastal Resilience
IF12667
Fund ($32.0 million FY2024 enacted; $34.0 million
FY2025 base level) and decreasing funding for Integrated
https://crsreports.congress.gov
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) FY2025 Budget Request and Appropriations
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12667 · VERSION 1 · NEW