National Institute of Standards and Technology

FY 2021 Budget Review

NIST VCAT

February 3, 2021
NIST FY 2021 Budget Summary ($1.034.5 B)

The President’s FY 2021 Budget:

• Overall flat budget compared with 

FY2020 (+0.5M over FY2020)

• Provides inflationary and some 

targeted programmatic increases to 

Lab programs (+$34M over FY2020)

• Limited increases for MEP and 

Manufacturing USA (+$4.5M over 

FY2020)

• Reduction to CRF budget (-$38.8M 

from FY2020

2

0

200

400

600

800

1000

FY 2019 Enacted FY 2020 Enacted FY 2021 Enacted

Dollars (millions) 

NIST Budget Breakout

STRS ITS CRF
STRS: $788.0 M (+$34.0 M)

• Provides several targeted increases to 

NIST Laboratory Programs, including 

increased funding for QIS, and AI 

work.

• Provides $16.35M of inflationary 

adjustments to base.

4

0

200

400

600

800

1000

FY 2019 Enacted FY 2020 Enacted FY 2021 Enacted

Dollars (millions)

STRS

Lab Programs Corp Services Stds Coord and Special Pgms BPEP
FY2021 STRS Program Increases 

4

Programmatic Area $ Increase over FY2020 

Quantum Information Science $6.5 M

Artificial Intelligence $6.5 M

Direct Air Capture and Carbon Dioxide Removal $3.0 M

NCCOE Cybersecurity of Genomic Data $1.25 M

Forensic Sciences $1.0 M

UAV Challenges and Credentialing $0.750 M

Pyrrhotite in Concrete Aggregate $0.50 M

Plastics and Polymeric Grants $0.250 M

Greenhouse Gas and Urban Dome Initiative $0.20 M

Baldridge Performance Excellence Program $0.30M
Artificial Intelligence (+$6.5 M)

Funding to support increased engagement in 

international standards development 

activities relevant to AI.

Increased funding for data characterization 

and data standards research in support of 

trustworthy AI

Funding to support the development of a 

Framework for Trustworthy AI as called for 

in the NDAA

8

Credit: mikemacmarketing Creative Commons
Quantum Information Science ($6.5 M)

It will take measurement services out of the 

lab and directly to the end user

Focus on the long-term evolution of quantum 

technologies and the ability to securely and 

efficiently transmit quantum information

Expands NIST research in the area of 

quantum networking

Expands projects at JILA and JQI and 

provides additional funding to support 

increased standards engagement

13

Strontium Optical Lattice Atomic Clock 

Credit: JILA
ITS: $166.5 M (+$4.5 M)

• The FY 2021 Budget provides:

• $150M for the MEP Program, a $4M 

increase over FY2020 levels. 

• $16.5M for the Manufacturing USA 

program a $0.5M increase over 

FY2020

• Up to $5M can be used to support 

network coordination activities including 

up to $1M to support FDA engagement 

with institutes

• $10M to continue funding support for 

NIIMBL

• $1M for a competitive grant program to 

develop technology roadmaps for 

promising advanced manufacturing 

clusters. 17

125

130

135

140

145

150

155

160

165

170

FY 2019 Enacted FY 2020 Enacted FY 2021 Enacted

Dollars (millions)

ITS

MEP Manufacturing USA
CRF $80.0 M (-$38.0 M)

• Bill directs NIST to contract with an 

independent entity to develop a 

facilities report that will identify 

facilities in greatest need of repair, 

describe the work to bring them up 

to current standards, and include cost 

estimates for each project. 

• With provided funding NIST will 

• $5M to develop a program of requirements 

for building 222 modernization

• $0.7M to develop a program of requirements 

for Gates A&F modernization

• $73.9M on SCMMR to address most pressing 

needs

• Utility Infrastructure

• Life safety and roofing projects

• IT infrastructure

20

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

FY 2019

Enacted

FY 2020

Enacted

FY 2021

Enacted

Dollars (millions)

CRF

Construction and Major Rennovaitons SCMMR
Next Steps

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FY2022

• Waiting for pass back and new priorities from OMB. 

Supplemental Appropriations

• Current COVID Relief Bill could included additional funding for NIST –

continuing to monitor the situation and work with the Department and 

Congressional Staff

• Additional Stimulus ? TBD