National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation was established by Congress in 1950 under the National Science Foundation Act signed by President Harry S. Truman. Its statutory mission is to promote the progress of science, advance national health, prosperity, and welfare, and secure the national defense. NSF is the only US federal agency with a mandate to support all non-medical fields of basic research and education. NSF is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia and employs approximately 2,100 people, including around 1,450 career staff, 200 visiting scientists on temporary rotations from research institutions, and 450 contractors. In a typical year, NSF funds approximately 11,000 competitive research and education awards, reaching around 350,000 researchers, students, and educators at roughly 1,900 institutions. NSF accounts for about 25% of all federal funding to US colleges and universities for basic research. NSF invests over $700 million annually in artificial intelligence research. Key AI safety-relevant programs include: the National AI Research Institutes, which have received over $200 million in cumulative investment and support research in trustworthy AI, AI security, privacy, and human-AI collaboration; the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR), a shared national infrastructure connecting hundreds of research teams to computational resources for safe and responsible AI research; a $10.9 million investment in safe AI technologies announced in August 2025; an AI test beds initiative for studying AI systems in real-world secure settings; and the CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service program integrating AI with cybersecurity education. NSF's FY2025 appropriation was approximately $8.826 billion. The administration's FY2026 budget request of $3.9 billion reflects a significant proposed reduction. NSF is governed by a director and the 24-member National Science Board, both appointed by the President.