PA Environment Digest

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President Trump’s FY 2021 Budget Proposal Cuts Environmental Funding For Program Critical To PA, Again

On February 11, President Trump released his proposed FY 2021 federal budget that contains cuts to environmental and natural resources programs critical to Pennsylvania of from 30 to 100 percent.

The cuts include--

-- 26.5 percent overall decrease in EPA’s budget from the 2020 enacted level and eliminates 50 programs entirely

-- 32 percent cut in grants paid to states to administer federal environmental programs

-- 100 percent cut in Section 319 Nonpoint Source Grants

-- 91 percent cut in Chesapeake Bay Program

-- 47 percent cut in support for Underground Storage Tanks

-- 10 percent cut to Superfund cleanup program

-- 100 percent cut in Radon Program

-- Cuts Crop Insurance, which helps farmers deal with droughts, floods and other weather damage to crops, by almost $25 billion over 10 years

-- 100 percent cut in Low-Income Home Energy Assistance and Weatherization Assistance Programs.

-- 78 percent cut to DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy research on advanced vehicle technology, a 72 percent cut to its solar energy research, a 74 percent cut to wind energy research, and an 81 percent cut in its energy efficiency research.

-- Nearly 97 percent cut in Land and Water Conservation Fund which funds local recreation, land conservation projects

-- Eliminates $115 million In Mine Reclamation Funding

-- 16 percent overall reduction in Interior Department, including $144 million cut to Fish & Wildlife Service, $265 million cut to National Park Service

You get the idea on cuts.

The budget does propose $1 trillion in federal investment for infrastructure which would be split into two components-- an $810 billion, 10-year reauthorization of surface transportation programs, including $602 billion for highway infrastructure; and $190 billion in investments for other infrastructure sectors including water and broadband.

Fortunately, Congress has pretty much ignored the Trump Administration’s budget requests and made their own decisions.

Advocacy groups are hoping that pattern continues with this year’s federal budget because vital programs are at stake.

Budget Background Resources:

Trump Administrative Narrative Summary of the Budget

U.S. EPA FY 2021 Budget Request Press Release

U.S. DOE FY 2021 Budget Request Press Release

U.S. Office Of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement FY 2021 Budget Press Release

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s FY 2021 Budget Summary

EPA Budget Summary - Environmental Council of the States

TNC: President’s Budget Makes Deep Cuts In Conservation Funding

EDF: Trump Budget Will Increase Pollution, Hurt Public Health & Safety

CBF: President’s FY21 Budget Cuts To Chesapeake Bay Program