American Psychological Association FY2023 Defense Funding Recommendations

• •The APA requests $17 million in funding for the Minerva Research Initiative for FY2023.
• •The Minerva Research Initiative funds university-led teams to conduct social science research on strategic national security topics.
• •Approximately 10 percent of all Minerva grants have been awarded to support psychological science.
• •The Bravemind virtual reality tool is currently used in approximately 100 sites, including VA hospitals and military bases, for PTSD treatment.
• •The APA advocates for increased Defense Science & Technology (S&T) funding consistent with National Defense Strategy Commission recommendations.
• •The DoD funds behavioral and social science research through the Army Research Institute, Army Research Laboratory, Office of Naval Research, and Air Force Research Laboratory.
• •Psychological research is categorized into basic (6.1), applied/exploratory (6.2), and advanced (6.3) development.
• •The APA supports continued investment in AI research, specifically focusing on human-AI collaboration and cognitive processes.

The APA is lobbying Congress to maintain or increase funding for specific Department of Defense research programs, including a $17 million request for the Minerva Research Initiative, which directly impacts the budget allocation for military behavioral and social science research.

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.