Biden Seeks 28% Commerce Department Funding Hike in FY 2022 Budget

April 12, 2021 |Agencies

President Joe Biden's FY 2022 discretionary budget request, released Friday, asks Congress to give the Commerce Department $11.4 billion, up almost 28% from what it received for FY 2021. The money includes $39 million to NTIA "for advanced communications research," to "support the development and deployment of broadband and 5G technologies by identifying innovative approaches to spectrum sharing," the White House said. The request "ensures Commerce has additional staff and resources to analyze export control and Entity List proposals, enforce related actions, and implement executive actions related to export controls and secure telecommunications." The budget would give the National Institute of Standards and Technology $916 million, up 16% from FY 2021, the White House said. That would help NIST spur research into "computing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, quantum information science ... and to establish prize competitions to pursue key technology goals." Biden is seeking $2.1 billion for the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, an almost 6% boost. CISA got increased scrutiny for the 2020 SolarWinds cyber hack (see 2104060058). "This funding would allow CISA to enhance its cybersecurity tools, hire highly qualified experts, and obtain support services to protect and defend Federal information technology systems," the White House said. "The discretionary request also provides $20 million for a new Cyber Response and Recovery Fund." The request includes $500 million for the General Services Administration’s Technology Modernization Fund to “strengthen federal cybersecurity and retire antiquated legacy technology systems.” The TMF request “builds on” $1 billion provided in the American Rescue Plan Act, the White House said. The request shows a "commitment to improve cybersecurity" and "invest in researching and developing modern technologies," House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said.