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 FY 2026, DOD held the largest share of federal R&D — 57.1% of $118.7B.

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

Millions of constant 2017 dollars — adjusted for inflationFY 2026: budget-request estimate

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

Who-funds-US-R&D data runs through 2023, so this year shows the federal agency split only.

1953FY 20262026

About this view

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

Of $118.7B in federal R&D that year, DOD held the largest share at 57.1%. Fiscal year 2026 figures are estimates carried from the White House budget request; the enacted FY 2026 cycle is tracked on the appropriations page.

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