President Donald Trump released an outline of his first budget, and it shows that he plans to make some deep cuts throughout the executive branch while increasing spending for defense. It also includes cuts to foreign aid. This blueprint only includes discretionary funding proposals. The Trump Administration plans to release the full budget later this spring which will include tax proposals and the full fiscal path. Here are some highlights from America First: A Budget Blueprint to Make America Great Again:
His budget proposes the elimination of funding for several independent agencies:
- African Development Foundation
- Appalachian Regional Commission
- Chemical Safety Board
- Corporation for National and Community Service
- Corporation for Public Broadcasting
- Delta Regional Authority
- Denali Commission
- Institute of Museum and Library Services
- Inter-American Foundation
- U.S. Trade and Development Agency
- Legal Services Corporation
- National Endowment for the Arts
- National Endowment for the Humanities
- Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation
- Northern Border Regional Commission
- Overseas Private Investment Corporation
- United States Institute of Peace
- United States Interagency Council on Homelessness
- The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
The budget previews a major reorganization that will take place in one year within the executive branch. All cabinet-level departments and agencies with the exception of Departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs will see significant cuts to their discretionary spending:
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s FY 2018 budget of $17.9 Billion reflects a 21 percent decrease ($4.7 billion) from the annualized 2017 continuing resolution. This includes the elimination of the Water and Wastewater Loan and Grant program, as well as, a reduction of staffing in USDA Service Center agencies.
- The U.S. Department of Commerce’s FY 2018 budget of $7.8 Billion reflects a 16 percent decrease ($1.5 Billion) decrease from the annualized 2017 CR. This includes consolidation of the mission, policy support, and administrative functions of the Economics and Statistics Administration within the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Department of Commerce’s Office of the Secretary. His budget also eliminates the Economic Development Administration, Minority Business Development Agency, and cuts $250 million in NOAA grants supporting coastal and marine management, research and education.
- Requests $639 Billion for the Department of Defense which is a $52 Billion increase from the annualized 2017 CR. This includes $574 Billion for the base budget (a 10 percent increase) and $65 Billion for overseas contingency operations. The budget repeals the defense sequestration.
- The U.S. Department of Education’s FY 18 budgeted discretionary funding is $59 Billion which is a $9 Billion or 13 percent reduction from the 2017 CR. This increases investment in public and private school choice by $1.4 Billion. This budget also eliminates the Supporting Effective Instruction State Grant program, 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, and Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant. It reduces the federal work-study program. The budget also eliminates or reduces over 20 categorical programs that do not address national needs, duplicate other programs, or are more appropriately supported with State, local, or private funds, including Striving Readers, Teacher Quality Partnership, Impact Aid Support Payments for Federal Property, and International Education programs.
- Requests $28 Billion for the U.S. Department of Energy which is a $1.7 or 5.6 percent reduction from the annualized 2017 CR.
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services FY 2018 budget reflects a $15.1 Billion or 17.9 percent decrease from the annualized 2017 CR, this does not include entitlement spending. The budget reflects a major reorganization of NIH’s Institutes and Centers. It eliminates the discretionary programs within the Office of Community Services. It also eliminates $403 million in health professions and nursing training programs.
- Increases the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s discretionary budget authority by $2.8 billion to $44.1 Billion, a 6.8 percent increase from the annualized 2017 CR. This includes an allocation of $4.5 Billion in additional funding for border security and the integrity of the immigration system. This includes $314 million to recruit, hire, and train 500 new Border Patrol Agents and 1,000 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement law enforcement personnel in 2018, plus associated support staff. President Trump proposes an additional $1.5 billion above the 2017 annualized CR level for expanded detention, transportation, and removal of illegal immigrants. It also provides $15 million to begin the implementation of mandatory nationwide use of the E-Verify Program.
- Requests $40.7 in gross discretionary spending in FY 2018 for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This represents a $6.2 Billion or 13.2 percent decrease from the annualized 2017 CR. This includes the elimination of the Community Development Block Grant program. It also eliminates funding for a number of lower priority programs, including the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Choice Neighborhoods, and the Self-help Homeownership Opportunity Program.
- Requests $11.6 Billion for the U.S. Department of the Interior, a 1.5 Billion or 12 percent decrease from the annualized 2017 CR. Reduces funding for lower priority activities, such as new major acquisitions of Federal land.
- The U.S. Department of Justice FY 2018 Budget of $27.7 Billion is a $1.1 Billion or 3.8 percent decrease from the annualized 2017 CR. It strengthens counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and Federal law enforcement activities by providing an increase of $249 million, or 3 percent, above the 2017 annualized CR level for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
- Requests $9.6 billion for the U.S. Department of Labor, a $2.5 billion or 21 percent decrease from the 2017 annualized CR level. This includes a decrease of Federal support for job training and employment service formula grants, shifting more responsibility for funding these services to States, localities, and employers.
- Requests $25.6 billion in base funding for the U.S. Department of State and USAID, a $10.1 billion or 28 percent reduction from the 2017 annualized CR level. The Budget also requests $12.0 billion as Overseas Contingency Operations funding for extraordinary costs, primarily in war areas like Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, for an agency total of $37.6 billion. The 2018 Budget also requests $1.5 billion for Treasury International Programs, an $803 million or 35 percent reduction from the 2017 annualized CR level. This includes the elimination of the Global Climate Change Initiative. The budget also ceases payments to the United Nations’ (UN) climate change programs by eliminating U.S. funding related to the Green Climate Fund and its two precursor Climate Investment Funds. President Trump’s budget also reduces funding to the UN and affiliated agencies, including UN peacekeeping and other international organizations.
- Requests $16.2 billion for U.S. Department of Transportation’s discretionary budget, a $2.4 billion or 13 percent decrease from the 2017 annualized CR level. The budget initiates a multi-year reauthorization proposal to shift the air traffic control function of the Federal Aviation Administration to an independent, non-governmental organization. The budget restructures and reduces Federal subsidies to Amtrak to focus resources on the parts of the passenger rail system that provide meaningful transportation options within regions. The Budget terminates Federal support for Amtrak’s long distance train services, which incur the vast majority of Amtrak’s operating losses.
- Requests $12.1 billion in discretionary resources for the Department of the Treasury’s domestic programs, a $519 million or 4.1 percent decrease from the 2017 annualized CR level.
- Requests $78.9 billion in discretionary funding for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a $4.4 billion or 6 percent increase from the 2017 enacted level. The Budget also requests legislative authority and $3.5 billion in mandatory budget authority in 2018 to continue the Veterans Choice Program.
- Requests $5.7 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency, a savings of $2.6 billion, or 31 percent, from the 2017 annualized CR level. The elminiates funding for the Clean Power Plan, international climate change programs, climate change research and partnership programs, and related efforts. The budget also eliminates more than 50 EPA programs, saving an additional $347 million compared to the 2017 annualized CR level.
- Requests $19.1 billion for NASA, a 0.8 percent decrease from the 2017 annualized CR level, with targeted increases consistent with the President’s priorities.
- Requests $826.5 million for Small Business Administration, a $43.2 million or 5.0 percent decrease from the 2017 annualized CR level.