EPA’s FY 14 budget of $8.2 billion, though minimally higher than the FY 14 requested amount, represents a $144 million drop from the president’s FY 13 requested budget, a $249 million reduction from the FY 12 funding amount, and a staggering $1.8 billion below EPA’s FY 11 budget of $10 billion. While $8.2 billion may still seem like a huge budget, more than $3.5 billion (43 percent) is directly passed through to states, localities, and tribes in assistance grants to support their environmental protection programs.  Continue reading “EPA Sustains Major Cuts to Developing and Enforcing Safeguards in FY 14 Appropriations”

EPA Sustains Major Cuts to Developing and Enforcing Safeguards in FY 14 Appropriations

by Ronald White, 2/3/2014

Despite an attempt by some to portray the $299 million increase in EPA’s overall fiscal year 2014 budget as a positive compromise, those in Congress who oppose developing and enforcing public health and environmental safeguards have much to celebrate. Of particular concern, the budget includes major cuts to EPA’s operations that develop and enforce public health and environmental protections.

EPA’s FY 14 budget of $8.2 billion, though minimally higher than the FY 14 requested amount, represents a $144 million drop from the president’s FY 13 requested budget, a $249 million reduction from the FY 12 funding amount, and a staggering $1.8 billion below EPA’s FY 11 budget of $10 billion. While $8.2 billion may still seem like a huge budget, more than $3.5 billion (43 percent) is directly passed through to states, localities, and tribes in assistance grants to support their environmental protection programs. Continue reading “EPA Sustains Major Cuts to Developing and Enforcing Safeguards in FY 14 Appropriations”