OAR Budget

Budget Process

We receive many questions about the timing of the budget process.  The timeline below is intended as a guide to help explain the process from budget formulation to execution. 

Click to expand budget timeline

Updates (as of 1/25/21)

Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021

On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L. 116-260) was signed into law by President Trump. This provides a total of $5.65B for NOAA. This includes $4.10 billion for NOAA Operations, Research and Facilities (ORF) and $1.55 billion in Procurement, Acquisition and Construction (PAC). 

OAR Operations, Research, and Facilities (ORF) - OAR received $570.6 million in ORF funds, an increase of $22.2 million from FY 2020.

Climate Research - OAR Climate Research is funded at $182.0M, which is a $12.5M increase from FY 2020 enacted. This rejects the proposed AOML Climate Research, Arctic Research and Climate Competitive Research terminations within this subactivity. 

• Climate Research Labs and Cooperative Institutes: $75.5M ($9.0M increase above the FY 2020 enacted)
  • Provides $9.0M increase for Earth Radiation Budget, an increase of $5.0M above FY 2020 enacted
• Regional Climate Data and Information: $42.5M ($2.5M increase above the  FY 2020 enacted) 
  • $2.5M increase for Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) Program above FY 2020 enacted
• Climate Competitive Research: $64.0M ($1.0M increase above the FY 2020 enacted)

Weather and Air Chemistry Research - OAR Weather and Air Chemistry Research is funded at $139.4M, which is a $5.7M increase from FY 2020 enacted. This rejects the proposed ARL Closure, and Vortex-SE and Infrasonic terminations within this subactivity. 

• Weather and Air Chemistry Research Labs and Cooperative Institutes: $85.5M ($3.5M increase from the FY 2020 enacted)
  • Creation of Vortex-USA at $7.5M 
• U.S. Weather Research Program: $26.5M (increase of $3.5M from FY 2020 enacted)
  • $1.0M to support external opportunities with academic institutions, including infrasonic monitoring methods of violent weather. 
• Tornado Severe Storm Research/Phased Array Radar: $14.4M (increase of $748K above the FY 2020 enacted) 
• Joint Technology Transfer Initiative: $13.0M (decrease of $2M from the FY 2020 enacted) 

Ocean, Coastal and Great Lakes Research - Ocean, Coastal and Great Lakes Research is funded at $231.5M, which is an increase of $2.9M above the FY 2020 enacted. 

• Ocean, Coastal and Great Lakes Research Labs and Cooperative Institutes: $36.5M (increase of $1.0M from the FY 2020 enacted)
• National Sea Grant College Program base: $75.0M (rejects termination and provides a $1.0M increase above the FY 2020 enacted) 
• Marine Aquaculture: $13.0M (equal to the FY 2020 enacted)
• Ocean Exploration and Research: $43.0M ($1.0M increase above the FY 2020 enacted)
• Integrated Ocean Acidification: $15.5M ($1.5M increase above the FY 2020 enacted) 
• Sustained Ocean Observations and Monitoring: $45.4M (increase of $408K above the FY 2020 enacted) 
• National Oceanographic Partnership Program: $3.0M (decrease of $2.0M from the FY 2020 enacted)

Innovative Research and Technology - Innovative Research and Technology is funded at $17.8M, which is $1.0M above FY 2020 enacted. 

• High Performance Computing (HPC) Initiatives ORF - HPC ORF is funded at $17.8M, which is an increase of $1.0M above the FY 2020 enacted.

OAR Procurement, Acquisition and Construction (PAC) - OAR received $43.5M in PAC funds, an increase of $1.5M from FY 2020 enacted.

• Research Supercomputing: Research supercomputing PAC is funded at $42.0M, which is a $1.0M increase above the FY 2020 enacted. 
  • $15.0M shall be used to continue to develop a dedicated high performance computing facility in collaboration with partners that have existing high performance computing expertise and scientific synergies.