Debt Agreement and US Research

Now that the debt agreement has been reached by the politicians in Washington, what is the fate of US research funding?

Science Insider has a first look at what was agreed upon, and finds that things could be A LOT worse for science funding in the US based simply on what has been agreed upon for discretionary spending.

The legislation President Barack Obama signed today to avert a government default offers few details on how the United States will achieve a now-mandated $917-billion cut to discretionary spending over the next decade. And while research funding is by no means exempt, there may yet be a silver lining for U.S. scientists in the Budget Control Act of 2011.

 I think everyone who depends on federal funding for various science projects is already resigned to the fact that for the next 2 or 3 years, at least, funding will be extremely tight. It's a matter of hanging on without losing our grip while riding through this long, arduous storm.

Speaking of debt agreement, there is an interesting essay about the imaginary world of debt ceiling, and the real, physical ceiling imposed by Mother Nature. Perhaps no politicians will read it, or understand it, but you should.

Zz.