Washington Update: OMB Issues FY2019 Research and Budget Priorities Memo

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) jointly released a memo last week on the administration’s research and development priorities for 2019 Fiscal Year. The memo, which is addressed to the heads of executive departments and agencies, outlines five priorities areas for federal research and development: military superiority, security, prosperity, energy dominance, and health. It also directs agencies to increase efficiency by modifying or eliminating existing programs “that could progress more efficiently through private sector R&D,” to prioritize basic and early stage applied research that the private sector can later transform into commercial products, and to incorporate STEM education into their programs. According to the memo guidance, achieving these goals should not require additional funding.