National Institute of Standards and Technology

FY 2020 Appropriations and FY2021 President’s 

Budget Request
NIST BUDGET ($M)

FY 2018 

Enacted

FY 2019 

Enacted

FY 2020 

Pres. 

Request

FY 2020 

Enacted Delta

Laboratory 

Programs (STRS) $724.5 $724.5 $611.7 $754.0 $29.5

Hollings Mfg Ext 

Partnership 

(MEP) 

$140.0 $140.0 $0.0 $146.0 $6.0

Manufacturing 

USA $15.0 $15.0 $15.2 $16.0 $1.0

Construction & 

Renovation $319.0 $106.0 $59.9 $118.0 $12.0

Total $1,198.5 $985.5 $686.8 $1,034.0 $48.5
STRS Changes

New Funding in 2020 Increase ($M)

Pyrrhotite 1.5

Regenerative Medicine 2.5

Plastics & Polymeric 

Materials 1

Graphene 1.25

PS UAV Challenge 2.5

Microelectronics 2

First Responder Health 

(PFAS) 2

Quantum 10

AI 8

Forensics 1.15

$0.00

$50.00

$100.00

$150.00

$200.00

$250.00

$300.00

STRS Funding by Mission Area

FY 2019 FY 2020
QED-C -- $7M

• Provide full support for QED-C Operations

• Initiate funding of joint research project to 

develop instrumentation, material 

characterization tools, and component 

technologies

Support for NIST QIS R&D -- $3M

• $1M for JILA Quantum projects

• $2M for increased support for NIST Quantum 

Engineering Efforts

Quantum

More than 90 Letters of Intent have been received 

for QED-C Membership
Artificial Intelligence

NIST will become an authoritative source of measurement tools, capabilities, and data 

necessary to define, develop, and evaluate trustworthy AI. 

Trustworthy AI -- $3M

• Defining technical Requirements of 

Trustworthy AI

• Development of new measurement and test 

methodologies

Development of validated data to support AI 

application areas -- $3M

• Support targeted efforts around application 

areas like synthetic biology, advanced 

materials, manufacturing, spectrum sharing

Next generation AI Hardware R&D -- $2M

• Neuromorphic computing

• Development of metrology to test AI 

hardware
ITS

MEP -- $146M • $6M increase is to be evenly 

distributed across existing 

centers ($100K/center)

Manufacturing USA -- $16M • No more than $5M for network 

coordination

• Up to $1M can be used to 

support FDA’s participation in 

biomanufacturing institutes.
CRF

B/Bldg 1 

Building One Renovation-- $43M • Renovation of Wing 5 – funds the design and 

installation of IT and security requirements 

for Wing 5, as well as furniture, fixtures, and, 

equipment.

Safety, Capacity, Maintenance, and Major 

Repair-- $75M • $40M – Standing labor costs and contracts • $24M – Utility infrastructure repairs • $1M – Continuation of multiyear roof 

replacement

• $3M – IT infrastructure upgrades

• $7M – Additional repair and replacement 

projects
NIST FY 2021 Budget Summary

The President’s FY 2021 Budget:

• Emphasizes NIST’s role in Industries of the 

Future, with priority on Artificial Intelligence

• Prioritizes NIST’s core measurement mission

• Significant Programmatic Reductions

• -13.5% reduction to R&D

• -84.4% reduction to IIS Programs

• Eliminates funding for MEP

• -49.0% reduction to construction and 

maintenance

2

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

FY 2019 Enacted FY 2020 Enacted FY 2021 Request

Dollars (millions)

NIST FY 2021 Budget Summary

STRS ITS CRF
STRS: $652.0 M (-$102.0 M and -391 Positions)

• Supports Administration priorities in 

Industries of the Future 

• A reduction of 13.5% from FY 2020 

levels for NIST research programs

• Would necessitate a reduction of 

almost 400 staff, approximately 15 % 

reduction in scientists and engineers

0

200

400

600

800

FY 2019 Enacted FY 2020 Enacted FY 2021 Request

Dollars (millions)

FY 2021 STRS Request

Baldrige Performance Excellence Program

Corporate Services

Standards Coordination and Special Programs

Laboratory Programs

4
Engineering Biology

Advanced Communications/5G

Quantum Science

Artificial Intelligence

AI-enabled measurement systems to 

support wide deployment of 5G wireless 

technologies, participating and leading in 

5G standards development

Living Systems Foundry for safe, 

predictable design and control of 

biological systems

Leading efforts to prioritize and address key 

AI standards needs while developing 

training and testing tools for research 

domains, from materials science to robotics 

New quantum networking grand challenge will 

build on NIST world-leading science, while 

NIST expands industry partnerships in the 

Quantum Economic Development Consortium

Advanced Manufacturing

Providing technical support and key 

infrastructure to the nation’s 

manufacturing industries as they strive to 

out-innovate global competitors

NIST will continue to expand research 

efforts in these five areas and work to 

strengthen U.S. engagement in 

standardization efforts

NIST Advancing U.S. Technological Leadership 

in the Industries of the Future

5
STRS Spending Changes by Activity Area

Budget (Dollars in millions) FY 2020 Enacted FY 2021 Request Difference

Advanced Communications, Networks, and Scientific Data 

Systems $67.4 $60.6 ($6.8) -10.1%

Advanced Manufacturing and Material Measurements $131.2 $92.5 ($38.7) -29.5%

Cybersecurity and Privacy $77.5 $79.4 +$1.9 +2.5%

Exploratory Measurement Science $75.4 $75.5 +$0.1 +0.1%

Fundamental Measurement, Quantum Science, and 

Measurement Dissemination $246.9 $213.6 ($33.3) -13.5%

Health and Biological Systems Measurement $36.6 $34.5 ($2.1) -5.7%

User Facilities $53.7 $50.0 ($3.7) -6.9%

Physical Infrastructure and Resilience $63.1 $43.7 ($19.4) -30.7%

Totals: $751.8 $649.8 ($102) -13.6%

Totals do not include the $2.2 M for BPEP

6
Industries of the Future: Focus on AI

(+$27.4 M and +24 Positions)

+$1.0 M to accelerate efforts to develop 

position, navigation, and timing profiles that 

strengthen national resilience by leveraging 

the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and 

working with public and private sectors

+$25.0 M for measurement tools and 

testbeds to accelerate the development and 

adoption of interoperable, secure, and 

reliable AI technologies, bringing NIST’s total 

AI investment to $48.9 M

+$1.4 M to support a prominent U.S. role in 

standards development efforts for 5G that 

will underpin the successful deployment of 

5G technologies

8
Highlight: Quantum Information Science

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

+40.3 M invested in portfolio of 

foundational quantum research impacting 

quantum computing, communications, and 

cryptography

Network of joint institutes with University 

of Maryland and University of Colorado, 

together with the Quantum Economic 

Development Consortium, make NIST a 

hub of quantum innovation

13
ITS: $25.3 M (-$136.7 M and 81 Positions)

• The FY 2021 President’s 

Budget provides support to 

coordinate the Manufacturing 

USA institute network and to 

open a competition to select a 

new institute.

• The request eliminates Federal 

funding for the Manufacturing 

Extension Partnership. 0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

FY 2019 Enacted FY 2020 Enacted FY 2021 Request

Dollars (millions)

FY 2021 ITS Request

Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Manufacturing USA

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NIST will continue to advance and 

modernize technology transfer 

from federal laboratories 

Major Activities

• Raise national awareness of tech transfer 

opportunities and successes with 

Manufacturing USA institutes and agency partners 

• Launch a DOC/NIST competition for a new Manufacturing 

USA institute, target selection 12/20

• Rebuild iEdison reporting system for 

extramural inventions, RFI open now

• Continue to advance legislative updates to increase return 

on investment from federally-funded R&D

• Update metrics for Federal Technology Transfer 

Report to improve tracking and value capture 

• Promote regional tech development and 

small business engagements 

NIST Strengthens U.S. Economic Competitiveness 

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Manufacturing USA (+9.3 M and 0 Positions)

Flexible Hybrid 

Electronics

San Jose, CA

Smart Sensors and 

Digital Process 

Control

Los Angeles, CA

Modular Chemical 

Process 

Intensification

New York, NY

Bio-pharmaceutical 

Manufacturing

Newark, DE

Digital 

Manufacturing

Chicago, IL

Integrated 

Photonics

Albany, NY

Rochester, NY

Regenerative 

Manufacturing

Manchester, NH

Advanced Fibers 

and Textiles

Rochester, NY Cambridge, MA

Sustainable 

Manufacturing

Wide Bandgap 

Semiconductors

Raleigh, NC

Advanced 

Composites 

Knoxville, TN

Detroit, MI

Lightweight 

Metals

Detroit, MI

Advanced 

Robotics

Pittsburgh, PA

Additive

Manufacturing

Youngstown, OH

El Paso, TX

www.ManufacturingUSA.com

NIST coordinates the nationwide Manufacturing USA 

network of 14 innovation institutes. 

• In FY 2021, NIST requests a total of $25.3 million. Of this total 

$5M will provide for the coordination of the network and the 

remaining $20 million will fund one new institute while 

discontinuing funding for NIIMBL, NIST’s first manufacturing 

innovation institute.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

FY 2019 Enacted FY 2020 Enacted FY 2021 Request

Dollars (millions)

Manufacturing USA

FY 2020 

Enacted

FY 2021 

Request 

Difference

$16.0 $25.3 $9.3 +58.1%

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CRF $60.2 M (-$57.8 M and 0 Positions)

• Identifies NIST’s Building 1 project as a 

candidate project to be funded through 

the GSA Federal Capital Revolving Fund.

• Supports staff salaries and recurring 

preventive maintenance contracts and 

materials.

• Previously scheduled equipment 

replacements for FY 2021 will be 

delayed. 

• Deferred maintenance backlog (over 

$700 million) will not be addressed. 

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

FY 2019 Enacted FY 2020 Enacted FY 2021 Request

Dollars (millions)

FY 2021 CRF Request

20
Boulder Building One (+19.6 M) 

• The FY 2021 Request includes 

+$19.6 million to provide for the 

repayment of the GSA Federal 

Capital Revolving Fund to 

renovate NIST’s Building 1 in 

Boulder, Colorado, estimated at 

$294 million.

• NIST would repay this mandatory 

fund through annual 

discretionary appropriations in 

15 payments.

B/Bldg 1 

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Safety, Capacity, Maintenance and Major Repairs 

($40.6 M)

The SCMMR request of $40.6 million will 

primarily fund annual fixed costs for 

salaries, recurring contracts, capital 

asset management, and 

planning/support costs. 

• NIST would defer SCMMR projects to FY 

2022, including critical site and facility 

infrastructure projects necessary for 

routine facility operations. 

• Previously planned facilities work will be 

reprioritized to address emergency 

projects.

• Funding level will result in an increase to 

the NIST deferred maintenance backlog 

(over $700 M). 

Flooding in one of NIST’s high precision 

laboratories damaged sensitive optical 

equipment and significantly delayed 

critical research projects. 

Emergency response crews stabilize a broken concrete duct bank 

carrying power feeder cables, one of three similar failures discovered, 

which necessitated a project to replace all electrical duct banks. 22
NIST Vision of the 

Future: 

Campus 

Implementation 

Plan

NIST awarded a contract for a 20-year implementation plan for 

the Gaithersburg and Boulder master plans including timing, 

phasing, and budget estimates.

• Implementation plan will be finalized in late FY 2020. 

• NIST will gladly provide updates on the progress of the plan. 

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