Policy Concentrates POLICY
Trump’s 2019 budget proposal scares science backers would receive almost $500 million, nearly $100 million less than in 2017. Energy efficiency and renewable energy science would get less than half of 2018 levels. The proposal eliminates several DOE energy-fo$8 billion this year, to $6 billion in 2019. Science R&D was not expected to fare well cused programs by arguing they should be EPA spending was last at $6 billion in 1991. in President Donald J. Trump’s spending funded by private entities. One is the AdEPA’s science and technology support proposal for 2019. But a last-minute convanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, a gressional funding boost means the propos- would drop about 40%, to $424 million, in $300 million program that supports break2019. The plan would eliminate EPA’s clial is more mixed for science agencies. through technologies that are unThe surprise additions to the likely to obtain private funding. budget would save basic science Overall, funding for DOE’s agencies from big cuts. SeverDonald J. Trump’s proposed fiscal 2019 budget suggests science activities would reach al, including NIH and NSF, are major cuts to energy and environmental programs. $14 billion, with almost half goessentially flat. However, some Proposed change from 2017a spending ing to nuclear-weapons-related agencies still face cuts of well work. Basic science would reover 30% for work on energy and NIH ceive about $5.3 billion, similar to environmental issues. NASA 2018 levels. “We’re discouraged to see Another hard-hit agency is yet another White House proNSF 0 NIST, which faces an overall cut posal that indicates either the DOE Office of Science of 37% from 2017 to $628 million. administration’s continued lack USDA R&D That includes a 14% cut to its of understanding about the crulaboratory programs to $516 milcial benefits scientific research NIST lion, including support for many provides to Americans or, worse, EPA science & technology chemists. The Hollings Manutheir persistent disregard of the facturing Extension Partnership, value of science to society,” says b DOE energy programs which supports small and meChristine McEntee, CEO of the –50 –40 –30 –20 –10 0 10 dium businesses, would also be American Geophysical Union, a Congress has not passed a funding measure covering all of 2018. eliminated in the proposal. echoing the statements of many b Includes renewables, energy efficiency, nuclear energy, fossil fuels, grid USDA would see its R&D budscience supporters. research, cybersecurity, and ARPA-E. get fall to $2.1 billion, a decrease The administration had origSource: AAAS R&D Budget & Policy Program. of 18.5% compared with 2017. inally proposed cuts averaging USDA’s primary competitive research grant mate change research, programs to reduce over 20% for science. But days before program, the Agriculture & Food Research greenhouse gas emissions, and efforts to the budget was to be released, Congress Initiative, would remain flat at $375 million. reduce radon exposure. It would zero out passed bipartisan legislation that sets NSF spending would remain at 2017’s the agency’s Science to Achieve Results rehigher spending limits for fiscal 2019 as level of $7.5 billion. But Research & Relatsearch grants and graduate fellowships. well as for fiscal 2018, which Congress has ed Activities support, including almost all EPA’s spending on the review and not yet fully funded. The Trump admingrant funding, would get a 2% increase. registration of pesticides would decrease istration responded by tacking an addenIn the initial proposal, NIH had faced to $93.3 million, a loss of around 20% dum onto its 2019 proposal that would proposed cuts of more than 20%, but it compared with 2017 levels. Some of that provide more money to some agencies. ended up with an increase of around 4% decrease would be made up with about The proposal might not mean much in from 2017 to $35.5 billion. Much of the $48 million in industry-paid user fees. But the long run. Congress tends to ignore the extra funding would go to fight the opioid there’s a catch. Congress must first renew president’s budget and propose its own epidemic. Some individual institutes were EPA’s authority to collect the fees, which funding levels. Even in bad budget times, still slated for cuts. expires on March 23. science has traditionally had strong supFor the second year, the Trump adminisThe agency would receive $58.6 million port from Congress. tration proposed eliminating the Chemical plus additional funds paid for by industry However, the budget proposal is imSafety Board, which investigates chemical fees to implement the revised Toxic Subportant because it shows the president’s stances Control Act. EPA received the same accidents. Its funding would be $9 million priorities—and regulation of or support for 2019 to finance the closing of CSB’s for energy and the environment are clearly amount in 2017, without the industry fees. operations.—ANDREA WIDENER, with conThe Department of Energy also faces not among them. proposed cuts to its energy and enviTake EPA, for example. Overall, Trump tributions from Britt Erickson; Cheryl Hogue; wants to slash EPA’s budget, which is about ronment programs. Fossil energy R&D and Jeff Johnson, special to C&EN
Environment and energy programs face major cuts; basic science is mostly spared
Presidential priorities
FEBRUARY 19, 2018 | CEN.ACS.ORG | C&EN
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