Outdated and inadequate research and development (R&D) infrastructure across the Federal government is threatening U.S. leadership in R&D and impeding technology breakthroughs, a new report from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) says.
The report, from OSTP’s National Science and Technology (NSTC) subcommittee on Research and Development Infrastructure, warns that aging infrastructure in many Federal research laboratories is impacting the ability of agencies to meet their missions.
“Being a science superpower carries the burden of supporting and maintaining the advanced underlying infrastructure that supports the research and development enterprise,” the May 2024 report says.
“Congressional appropriations have not kept pace with maintenance needs across multiple administrations, resulting in multibillion dollar maintenance backlogs across multiple government agencies, forcing government managers into a position where they must choose between executing science missions or maintaining their facilities,” OSTP wrote.
The report lists six examples of facilities across the Federal government that have been rated as “being in very poor condition.”
The Department of Energy (DoE) found that the average age of its 17 national laboratories is 46 years – close to the end of the planned 40- to 50-year design life. The DoE also said nearly 40 percent of its facilities have been rated as “substandard or inadequate” to serve its mission.
Additionally, a 2023 survey found that 73 percent of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) facilities are 60 to 70 years old, and over 60 percent is classified as in “poor to critical condition.”
The 31-page report also notes that 75% of NASA’s facilities are beyond their designed lifetime, and the Pentagon’s unfunded research, development, test, and evaluation infrastructure requirements were shown to have grown significantly since annual reporting began in 2018, “putting the military at risk of losing its technological superiority.”
“These challenges come at a time when the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and other parts of the world are able to provide newer, state-of-the-art facilities offering improved access that attracts U.S. and other international researchers,” the report says. “Without action to remedy the situation, deferred maintenance will only increase in both cost and impact to the U.S. taxpayer and to many of the nation’s critical S&T programs.”
The report of course notes the lost time and money these aging research facilities cost the Federal government, but it also highlights safety and security concerns.
“[M]any of these older buildings are contaminated with materials that pose significant environmental and health concerns, including radioactive materials, beryllium, asbestos, and lead,” the report says.
The report points to several recommendations for agencies, including strategically planning the prioritization of investments to renew legacy facilities. It also calls for agencies to identify gaps and opportunities to collaborate with partners.
