project expenditures. Combined project expenditures for Commerce and DOD institutes also increased from FY 2019 through FY 2023, although at a higher rate than the increase in the number of projects. Specifically, percent during the period, while project expenditures at DOD's institutes roughly doubled. Also, NllMBL officials reported that the institute obtained new funding sources for projects and added new R&D capacity, such as NlIMBL-directed programs to focus R&D in specific areas, a faculty fellows program for guest researchers, and research by permanent R&D staff of the institute, in addition to existing project calls for member-led For DOE's institutes, the combined number of projects decreased slightly from FY 2019 through FY 2023, according to institute data. Officials with one institute, PowerAmerica, told us the institute's total project decreased by roughly the same percentage in those years. The institute