EPA’s FY18 Budget Cut by Trump Administration
EPA’s FY18 Budget Cut by Trump Administration
On May 23, 2017, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued President Trump’s proposal for the Budget of the U.S. Government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018. The budget proposes significant cuts in funding for climate and other environmental research at various federal agencies. For example, funding for climate and environmental research programs at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would be cut by thirty-nine percent or $438 million, compared to FY 2017 levels. This would have major implications for research at universities and other institutions, with a 2018 report noting:
“Federal government show that roughly half of EPA’s [climate and environment research] funding is used by EPA’s intramural laboratories, with the remainder allocated to industry and by universities and colleges. If the proposed 2018 cuts are allocated as stated in EPA documents, then EPA support for university and industry [climate and environmental research] could be eliminated entirely. EPA budget documents state that cuts to EPA S&T [i.e, its Science and Technology program] would result in a reduction of 715 work years, primarily of scientific and technical personnel inside and outside EPA.”
| Update: On March 22, 2018, Congress passed a $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill for FY2018. The bill rejects President Trump’s proposal to cut EPA funding by $2.5 billion and instead maintains funding for the agency at current levels. The bill provides EPA with $713 million in funding (to remain available until September 30, 2019) for “science and technology, including research and development activities.” |