OBER Dr. Patrinos stated that the budget outlook for 2000 and 2001 appeared somewhat bleak. There are still some strong restrictions on allocations on the Hill so it is going to be hard for science to get significant growth. As noted by Dr. Krebs, new initiatives end up eating into base programs. It is a troublesome situation that has gotten worse over the years. It is demoralizing for the people in the science management business and is a potential threat to long-term program development and planning.
Low dose is another.
This is a long overdue project that is of special interest to Senator Domenici. It is difficult to replace people who have left. We are losing people faster than we are replacing them. The rules for hiring Federal employees, and even employees in other capacities, are becoming more onerous and are driving away people. Those who make the rules seem to think that public service is a privilege.