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1 [1] (January 30, 2026)

handle is hein.crs/govetha0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congr ~on I Resed ch Service ho nino I leji tive d ~ba ~ 'e 914 Updated January 30, 2026 Defense Primer: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Advanced technologies play a critical role in ensuring U.S. national security. To maintain technological superiority on the battlefield, the Department of Defense (DOD)-which is using a secondary Department of War designation under Executive Order 14347 dated September 5, 2025- relies on scientific and technical knowledge developed in large measure through research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) efforts funded by the department and performed by industry, universities, federal laboratories, and others. DOD is the largest supporter of federally funded research and development (R&D)-accounting for 50% of federal R&D in FY2024. DOD also relies increasingly on technology developed by the private sector for commercial markets. This In Focus describes DOD's RDT&E appropriations structure, FY2025 enacted funding levels for DOD RDT&E, and congressional considerations. rT Appropriatons Structure DOD appropriations are provided annually through the defense appropriations act. RDT&E funding is generally appropriated into high-level accounts in three of the act's titles (see text box). In FY2025, the total obligational authority enacted for RDT&E through regular appropriations was $143.7 billion. Defense Appropriations Act Titles That Fund RDT&E Title IV: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation * Army * Navy * Air Force * Space Force * Defense-Wide * Operational Test and Evaluation Title V: Revolving and Management Funds * National Defense Sealift Fund Title VI: Other Defense Programs * Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction * Defense Health Program * Inspector General Most ofDOD's RDT&E funding is appropriated into organization-related accounts in Title IV (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation), which includes appropriations accounts for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, a Defense-wide account, and the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation. The Defense-wide account includes the Missile Defense Agency, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and 15 other DOD organizations, as well as classified funding. Within these accounts are program elements that provide funding for particular activities. RDT&E funds are also appropriated in Titles V and VI of the defense appropriations act. For example, in Title VI, RDT&E funds are part of the Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction Program, the Defense Health Program, and the Office of the Inspector General. In some years, RDT&E funds have been provided in Title V as part of the National Defense Sealift Fund. Congress can also provide RDT&E funding through supplemental appropriations acts. For example, P.L. 118- 158, the American Relief Act, 2025, included $110.7 million in supplemental disaster relief funding for two RDT&E accounts-the Army and the Air Force. In addition, P.L. 119-21, the FY2025 reconciliation law, provided $156.2 billion in mandatory defense funding available for expenditure until September 30, 2029. DOD's FY2026 budget request indicates that $37 billion of such reconciliation funding is for RDT&E. RDT&E by Character of Work While DOD Title IV funds are appropriated into organization-related accounts, DOD budget justifications and congressional appropriations reports and explanatory statements typically describe RDT&E funding by the character of the work to be performed. This characterization consists of eight categories, each with a budget activity code (6.1-6.8) and a description (Table 1). Table I. DOD RDT&E Budget Activity Codes Code Description 6.1 Basic Research 6.2 Applied Research 6.3 Advanced Technology Development 6.4 Advanced Component Development and Prototypes 6.5 System Development and Demonstration 6.6 RDT&E Management Support 6.7 Operational System Development 6.8 Software and Digital Technology Pilot Programs Source: Department of Defense, Financial Management Regulation (DoD 7000.14-R), Volume 2B, September 2022. Funding in Codes 6.1 to 6.3 is referred to by DOD and others as the defense science and technology (S&T) budget. This portion of DOD RDT&E is seen as the pool of knowledge necessary for the development of future military systems. In contrast, 6.4, 6.5, and 6.7 funds are focused on the application of existing scientific and technical knowledge to meet current or near-term operational needs. The funds in 6.6 are for RDT&E management and support work in the other RDT&E budget activity codes. DOD added Budget Activity Code 6.8 as part of the FY2021 budget request to support the acquisition, sustainment, and