Data updated April 3, 2025

What does the National Science Foundation do?

Updates published annually

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent executive branch agency responsible for supporting science and engineering nationwide for the purpose of scientific progress, advancement of national health and welfare, and national security. The agency fulfills this objective primarily through making grants, funding approximately 25% of all federally supported research conducted by US colleges and universities. It was established in 1950.

In FY 2024,

$9.4B

was spent by the National Science Foundation

In FY 2024,

0.1%

of federal spending was by the National Science Foundation

How much does the National Science Foundation spend?

The National Science Foundation spent $9.39 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 0.1% of the $6.78 trillion in overall federal spending. The department ranked 26th among federal agencies in total spending.

The National Science Foundation accounted for 0.1% of all federal spending in FY 2024.

Share of NSF net spending compared to the top ten highest spending agencies in FY 2024

Federal spending may shift over time due to population growth, changes in policy and programs, and emerging problems to address. Adjusting for inflation, the National Science Foundation’s federal spending has increased from $3.55 billion in 1980 to $9.39 billion in 2024.

The National Science Foundation’s federal spending in FY 2024 was higher than in FY 1980.

Yearly federal net spending by NSF, adjusted for inflation (2024 dollars), FYs 1980–2024

Since 1980, National Science Foundation's spending has increased 164.3%, while overall spending has increased 193.7%.

The department’s spending grew less than overall spending, which means that the department’s share of the federal budget decreased. In 2024, NSF accounted for 0.1% of all federal spending. That’s 0.061 percentage points lower than 2014 and 0.015 points lower than in 1980.

Major legislation, internal or global economic conditions, and acute events like the COVID-19 pandemic can affect spending year to year. For example, the federal budget fluctuated during the pandemic, rising from $5.3 trillion (in 2023 dollars) in 2019 to $7.7 trillion in 2020 and $7.8 trillion in 2021.

The National Science Foundation’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

Percentage of federal budget dedicated to NSF, FYs 1980–2024

Most federal spending can be categorized as direct or indirect. Direct spending refers to money the federal government spends on budget items such as federal programs, employee salaries, and debt interest. Indirect spending refers to federal transfers to state and local governments.

In FY 2024, all of the National Science Foundation's spending was direct.

The chart below outlines all NSF spending.

How did the National Science Foundation spend its budget in 2024?

Federal government net spending isolated to NSF, FY 2024

How many people work for the National Science Foundation?

Some 2,000 of the 2.31 million total civilian federal employees work for the National Science Foundation as of September 2024. This is 15.8% more people than the agency staffed in 2010.

The number of federal employees working for the National Science Foundation has increased 15.8% since 2010.

Number of federal employees working for NSF, September 2010–2024

NSF accounts for 0.074% of the overall federal workforce. As the number of federal employees has changed, so too has the way the workforce is organized, with resources allocated to agencies depending on government priorities. NSF constituted a larger share of the overall federal workforce in September 2024 than in 2010 (0.072%).

While the number of employees on an agency’s payroll contributes to that agency’s expenditures, some agencies have relatively few employees compared to their budget or vice versa, giving them an outsized share of either the budget or the workforce. According to the most recent data, the National Science Foundation's share of the workforce (0.074%) is smaller than its share of the budget (0.1%).

Who leads the National Science Foundation?

The NSF is headed by a director, who is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The director serves for six years and is part of the NSF Executive Office of the Director team, which includes advisors and senior leadership.

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.

Office of Personnel Management
FedScope
Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury
Budget of the US Government and Monthly Treasury Statement