Science funding / Explore

Explore federal science funding

Seven decades of US research money in two lenses: how budgets moved over time, and how the dollars flow from funders to federal agencies. Every view has its own link — scrub, reframe, and share.

In 2023, industry funded 75.5% of US R&D — it passed the federal government as the biggest funder in 1980. DOD took the largest share of federal R&D dollars, 46.2%.

Where US research money comes from, and how the federal slice divides among agencies.

Millions of constant 2017 dollars — adjusted for inflation

Source: AAAS Historical R&D Data · as of 2025-10-23

1953FY 20232026

About this view

This view shows the money-flow lens for fiscal year 2023, within a scrubber window of 1953 to 2026, framed in constant 2017 dollars, adjusted for inflation.

In 2023, the federal government funded 18.3% of United States R&D and industry funded 75.5%. Of $158.9B in federal R&D that year, DOD held the largest share at 46.2%.

All figures come from the AAAS Historical R&D Data as of 2025-10-23.