right track, it is not. federal research sec if you look at the numbers from the national science foundation. since big entitlements like social security are mandatory this comes at a time when others around the world are moving fasts, the united states has dominated the world of basic science for years, even decades. but it s share of research development has been falling, from 37% of the total in 2001 to now 30%, according to the national science foundation. china is on course to surpass the united states in the percent of its gdp it spends on research and development in just a few years. it used to be funding basic science was not a partisan issue.