Climate science, policy, politics, and action
Full committee hearing.
Nominee:
Quintenz, a former Trump CFTC commissioner, is the Global Head of Crypto Policy for Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), with at least $3.4 million in assets.
The Committee on Rules will meet Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 2:00 PM ET in H-313, The Capitol on the following measure:
H.R. 4 would ratify DOGE eliminations of USAID, support for the United Nations, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, done by the Trump administration without Congressional authorization.
H.R. 4 would rescind $33 million of the $1.5 billion appropriated in FY 2024 and $169 million of the $1.5 billion appropriated in FY 2025 for the Contributions to International Organizations (CIO) account. The CIO account provides funding for the assessed contributions to the United Nations (UN), UN-affiliated organizations, and various other international organizations. This proposal is consistent with Executive Order (E.O.) 14155, “Withdrawing the United States From the World Health Organization,” and Executive Order 14199, “Withdrawing the United States From and Ending Funding to Certain United Nations Organizations and Reviewing United States Support to All International· Organizations,” and rescinds carryover balances from the prior year. The EO purports to remove the US from the World Health Organization; UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC); the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
H.R. 4 would rescind $203 million of the $1.4 billion appropriated in FY 2024 and $158 million of the $1.2 billion appropriated in FY 2025 for the Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities (CIPA) account. The CIPA account provides payment for the U.S. share of United Nations (UN) peacekeeping assessments.
H.R. 4 would rescind $500 million of the $4 billion appropriated in FY 2025 through FY 2026 and $400 million of the $6 billion appropriated in FY 2025 through FY 2029 for Global Health Programs for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which funds activities related to child and maternal health, HIV/ AIDS, and infectious diseases. This proposal would eliminate programs like family planning and reproductive health, LGBTQI+ activities, and equity programs.
H.R. 4 would rescind $800 million of the $3.2 billion appropriated in FY 2025 for Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA). MRA funds the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and provides overseas humanitarian assistance through the Department of State.
This proposal would rescind $43 million of the $55 million appropriated in FY 2025 for the Complex Crises Fund (CCF). CCF is intended to provide assistance that prevents and responds to crises in fragile countries.
H.R. 4 would rescind $83 million of the $345 million appropriated in FY 2025 for the Democracy Fund (DF). The DF account is intended to fund democracy promotion activities of the Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
H.R. 4 would rescind $1.7 billion of the $3.6 billion appropriated in FY 2025 for the Economic Support Fund (ESF). The ESF account is intended to fund assistance programs in countries of strategic importance to the United States to meet economic development needs, including climate programs.
H.R. 4 would rescind $125 million, the full amount appropriated in FY 2025 for the Contribution to the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), in alignment with Executive Order 14162, “Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements.”
H.R. 4 would rescind $437 million, the entire amount appropriated in FY 2025 for International Organizations and Programs (IOP). The IOP account funds voluntary contributions to international organizations and programs, largely to the United Nations (UN). This rescission would eliminate funding for the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Development Program (UNDP), the Montreal Protocol, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), among various other organizations.
H.R. 4 would rescind $2.5 billion of the $3.9 billion appropriated in FY 2025 for Development Assistance (DA), administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development. The DA account is intended to fund programs that work to end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies.
H.R. 4 would rescind $460 million, the full amount appropriated in FY 2025 for the Assistance for Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia (AEECA) account. The AEECA account is intended to support primarily former communist countries in the Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia region with programs focused on economic and political stability, including climate.
H.R. 4 would rescind $496 million of $4 billion appropriated in FY 2025 to the International Disaster Assistance (IDA) account, administered by USAID. IDA was intended to provide humanitarian assistance in response to natural disasters and conflicts, and other emergencies around the world.
H.R. 4 would rescind $125 million of the $1.7 billion appropriated in FY 2025 for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Operating Expenses account, which funds salaries and benefits and other direct costs for USAID direct hires and staff overseas.
H.R. 4 would rescind $57 million of the $75 million appropriated in FY 2025 for the Transition Initiatives (TI) account, administered by USAID. TI funding targets select priority countries where the U.S. must engage quickly as a contingency response component ofU.S. foreign assistance during conflict and political transitions.
H.R. 4 would rescind $27 million of the $47 million appropriated in FY 2025 for the Inter-American Foundation (IAF). The IAF provides grants to organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean. This rescission is aligned with Executive Order 14217, “Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy,” which calls for the elimination of the IAF.
H.R. 4 would rescind $22 million ofthe $45 million appropriated in FY 2025 for the African Development Foundation (ADF). The ADF delivers grants directly to African businesses to support economic growth. This rescission is aligned with Executive Order 14217, “Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy,” which calls for the elimination of the ADF.
H.R. 4 would rescind $15 million ofthe $55 million appropriated in FY 2025 for the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP). This agency funds a variety of conflict mitigation and intervention programs. This rescission is aligned with Executive Order 14217, “Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy,” which calls for the elimination of the USIP.
H.R. 4 would rescind $535 million, the full amount appropriated in FY 2024, and $535 million, the full amount appropriated in FY 2025, for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) in advance for FY 2026. CPB’s base appropriation is disbursed to public radio and public television systems in accordance with a statutory formula outlined in the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, as amended. Enacting the rescission would eliminate Federal funding for CPB.
On Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 10:15 a.m., in room 1324 Longworth House Office Building, the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Federal Lands will hold a legislative hearing on the following bills:
Witnesses:
Panel II
Panel III (Outside Experts):
Subcommittee hearing.
Witness:
The Trump administration proposed a budget of $46.32 billion for DOE for fiscal year (FY) 2026. The budget requests a $3.49 billion reduction, or 7.01 percent, below the FY 2025 enacted level.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and Grid Deployment are cut 75 percent; Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve cut 50 percent.
Eliminated programs include:
| Department of Energy | ||
|---|---|---|
| Program Name | $ Change from 2025 Enacted (in millions) | Brief Description of Program and Recommended Reduction or Increase |
| Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations | ||
| IIJA Cancellation | -15,247 | The Budget cancels over $15 billion in funds committed to build renewable energy, removing carbon dioxide from the air, and other technologies. The Budget also ends programs for electric vehicle and battery makers and cancels the Carbon Dioxide Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act. |
| Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) | -2,572 | The Budget reorients EERE programs to early-stage research and development programming, eliminating funding for Justice40. This proposal would support technologies that promote fossil-fuel and nuclear power and bioenergy. |
| Office of Science | -1,148 | The Budget reduces funding for climate change and renewable energy research. The Budget maintains priority areas such as high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, quantum information science, fusion, and critical minerals. |
| Environmental Management (EM) | -389 | The EM program performs activities at 14 active cleanup sites and operates a geologic disposal facility (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad, New Mexico). The EM topline is being reduced by $389 million, which reflects a reduction of about $178 million for the transfer of responsibility from the EM program to the National Nuclear Security Administration for the Savannah River site in South Carolina, where plutonium pit production capabilities would be developed. The Budget maintains the Hanford site in Washington at the 2025 enacted level but reduces funding for various cleanup activities at other sites. |
| Advanced Research Project Agency‒ Energy (ARPA-E) | -260 | The Budget reduces funding for ARPA-E, limiting support to research advancing fossil-fuel technologies and other technologies. Pollution-reducing technologies are not supported. |
| Office of Nuclear Energy | -408 | The Budget reduces funding for research on nuclear energy. Funding priorities include innovative concepts for nuclear reactors, researching advanced nuclear fuels, and maintaining the capabilities of the Idaho National Laboratory. |
| Office of Fossil Energy | -270 | The Budget restores the name and function of the Office of Fossil Energy to its original purpose, which is funding for the research of technologies that could produce an abundance of domestic fossil energy and critical minerals. |
| DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 Appropriation Summary ($K) | |||||
| FY 2024 Enacted | FY 2025 Enacted | FY 2026 Request | FY 2026 Request vs FY 2025 Enacted | ||
| $ | % | ||||
| Department of Energy Budget by Appropriation | |||||
| Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy1 | 3,460,000 | 3,460,000 | 888,000 | -2,572,000 | -74% |
| Electricity | 280,000 | 280,000 | 193,000 | -87,000 | -31% |
| Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency | |||||
| Response | 200,000 | 200,000 | 150,000 | -50,000 | -25% |
| Strategic Petroleum Reserve | 213,390 | 213,390 | 206,325 | -7,065 | -3% |
| Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves | 13,010 | 13,010 | 13,000 | -10 | 0% |
| SPR Petroleum Account | 100 | 100 | 100 | 0 | 0% |
| Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve | 7,150 | 7,150 | 3,575 | -3,575 | -50% |
| Total, Petroleum Reserve Accounts | 233,650 | 233,650 | 223,000 | -10,650 | -5% |
| Nuclear Energy (270)2 | 1,525,000 | 1,525,000 | 1,210,000 | -315,000 | -21% |
| Fossil Energy | 865,000 | 865,000 | 595,000 | -270,000 | -31% |
| Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning (UED&D) | 855,000 | 855,000 | 814,380 | -40,620 | -5% |
| Energy Information Administration | 135,000 | 135,000 | 135,000 | 0 | 0% |
| Non-Defense Environmental Cleanup | 342,000 | 342,000 | 322,371 | -19,629 | -6% |
| Science | 8,240,000 | 8,240,000 | 7,092,000 | -1,148,000 | -14% |
| Office of Technology Commercialization3 | 20,000 | 20,000 | — | -20,000 | -100% |
| Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations | 50,000 | 50,000 | — | -50,000 | -100% |
| Grid Deployment4 | 60,000 | 60,000 | 15,000 | -45,000 | -75% |
| Office of Manufacturing & Energy Supply Chains5 | — | — | 15,000 | +15,000 | N/A |
| Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy | 460,000 | 460,000 | 200,000 | -260,000 | -57% |
| Nuclear Waste Disposal Fund | 12,040 | 12,040 | 12,040 | 0 | 0% |
| Departmental Administration | 286,500 | 286,500 | 174,926 | -111,574 | -39% |
| Indian Energy Policy and Programs | 70,000 | 70,000 | 50,000 | -20,000 | -29% |
| Inspector General | 86,000 | 86,000 | 90,000 | +4,000 | +5% |
| Title 17 Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program | 58,719 | (121,000) | 682,588 | +803,588 | -664% |
| Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program | 13,000 | 13,000 | 9,500 | -3,500 | -27% |
| Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program | 6,300 | 6,300 | (12,000) | -18,300 | -290% |
| Total, Credit Programs | 78,019 | -101,700 | 680,088 | +781,788 | -769% |
| Energy Projects | 83,724 | — | — | 0 | N/A |
| Critical and Emerging Technologies | — | — | 2,000 | +2,000 | N/A |
| Total, Energy Programs | 17,341,933 | 17,078,490 | 12,861,805 | -4,216,685 | -25% |
| Weapons Activities6 | 19,108,000 | 19,293,000 | 24,856,400 | +5,563,400 | +29% |
| Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation | 2,581,000 | 2,396,000 | 2,284,600 | -111,400 | -5% |
| Naval Reactors | 1,946,000 | 1,946,000 | 2,346,000 | +400,000 | +21% |
| Federal Salaries and Expenses | 500,000 | 500,000 | 555,000 | +55,000 | +11% |
| Total, National Nuclear Security Administration | 24,135,000 | 24,135,000 | 30,042,000 | +5,907,000 | +24% |
| Defense Environmental Cleanup | 7,285,000 | 7,285,000 | 6,956,000 | -329,000 | -5% |
| Other Defense Activities | 1,080,000 | 1,107,000 | 1,182,000 | +75,000 | +7% |
| Defense Uranium Enrichment D&D | 285,000 | 285,000 | 278,000 | -7,000 | -2% |
| Total, Environmental and Other Defense Activities | 8,650,000 | 8,677,000 | 8,416,000 | -261,000 | -3% |
| Nuclear Energy (050) | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 0 | 0% |
| Total, Atomic Energy Defense Activities | 32,945,000 | 32,972,000 | 38,618,000 | +5,646,000 | +17% |
| Southeastern Power Administration | — | — | — | 0 | N/A |
| Southwestern Power Administration | 11,440 | 11,440 | 10,400 | -1,040 | -9% |
| Western Area Power Administration | 99,872 | 99,872 | 63,372 | -36,500 | -37% |
| Falcon and Amistad Operating & Maintenance Fund | 228 | 228 | 228 | 0 | 0% |
| Total, Power Marketing Administrations | 111,540 | 111,540 | 74,000 | -37,540 | -34% |
| Total, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies | 50,398,473 | 50,162,030 | 51,553,805 | +1,391,775 | +3% |
| Excess Fees and Recoveries, FERC | -9,000 | -9,000 | -9,000 | 0 | 0% |
| Title XVII Loan Guar. Prog Section 1703 Negative | |||||
| Credit Subsidy Receipt | -6,493 | -61,106 | -65,805 | -4,699 | +8% |
| UED&D Fund Offset | -285,000 | -285,000 | -278,000 | +7,000 | -2% |
| Sale of Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve | -98,000 | — | — | 0 | N/A |
| Sale of Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve | — | — | -100,000 | -100,000 | N/A |
| Total Funding by Appropriation | 49,999,980 | 49,806,924 | 51,101,000 | +1,294,076 | +3% |
| Total Discretionary Funding | 49,999,980 | 49,806,924 | 46,319,000 | -3,487,924 | -7% |
| DOE Budget Function | 49,999,980 | 49,806,924 | 51,101,000 | +1,294,076 | +3% |
| NNSA Defense (050) Total | 24,135,000 | 24,135,000 | 30,042,000 | +5,907,000 | +24% |
| Non-NNSA Defense (050) Total | 8,810,000 | 8,837,000 | 8,576,000 | -261,000 | -3% |
| Defense (050) | 32,945,000 | 32,972,000 | 38,628,000 | +5,646,000 | +17% |
| Science (250) | 8,240,000 | 8,240,000 | 7,092,000 | -1,148,000 | -14% |
| Energy (270) | 8,814,980 | 8,594,924 | 5,391,000 | -3,203,924 | -37% |
| Non-Defense (Non-050) | 17,054,980 | 16,834,924 | 12,483,000 | -4,351,924 | -26% |
1 The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy funding levels for FY 2024 Enacted and FY 2025 Enacted included the Offices of State and Community Energy Programs, Federal Energy Management Program, and Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains.
2 Naval Reactors and Nuclear Energy (050) amounts do not reflect the mandated transfer of $92.8 million in FY 2024 and FY 2025 from Naval Reactors to the Office of Nuclear Energy for operation of the Advanced Test Reactor
3 The Office of Technology Commercialization, formerly known as the Office of Technology Transitions, is funded in the Departmental Administration appropriation in FY 2026 at $10 million.
4 Funding for the Grid Deployment account in FY 2026 will support OE programs and projects, with close coordination with CESER, that increase generation and transmission capacity and strengthen grid security.
5 Funding for the MESC account in FY 2026 will support EERE and FE activities to address supply chain vulnerability areas, to include critical minerals and materials. The Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains was funded at $19 million in the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy appropriation in both FY 2024 Enacted and FY 2025 Enacted.
6 FY 2026 Requested Funding includes $4.782 billion in mandatory Reconciliation resources for NNSA Weapons Activities.
Nomination hearing.
Nominees:
Jacob Helberg is senior advisor to Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir Technologies.
Ben Black is the son of billionaire Leon Black.
Andrew Puzder is the former chief executive officer of CKE Restaurants, the parent company of Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr., a spousal abuser and Trump mega-donor.
Howard Brodie is a financier and Trump donor.
S. Paul Kapur is a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution.
Subcommittee markup.
| Department of Homeland Security | ||
|---|---|---|
| Increases | ||
| Program | $ Change from 2025 Enacted (in millions) | Description |
| DHS | +43,800 | Amounts for DHS in the 2026 Budget complement amounts that the Administration has requested as part of the reconciliation bill currently under consideration in the Congress. Reconciliation would allocate more than $175 billion in additional multiyear budget authority to implement the Administration’s priorities in the homeland security space of which at least an estimated $43.8 billion would be allocated in 2026. Reconciliation funding in 2026 would enable DHS to fully implement the President’s mass removal campaign, finish construction of the border wall on the Southwest border, procure advanced border security technology, modernize the fleet and facilities of the Coast Guard, and enhance Secret Service protective operations. Reconciliation would also provide funding to bolster State and local capacity to enhance security around key events and facilities, and prepare for upcoming special events like the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics. |
| Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations | ||
| Program | $ Change from 2025 Enacted (in millions) | Description |
| Non-Disaster Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Grant Programs | -646 | The Budget reduces FEMA grant programs. FEMA under the previous administration made equity a top priority for emergency relief, which will end. The National Domestic Preparedness Consortium will be eliminated. |
| Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) | -491 | The Budget refocuses CISA on Federal network defense and enhancing the security and resilience of critical infrastructure. The Budget eliminates programs focused on misinformation and propaganda as well as external engagement offices such as international affairs. |
| Shelter and Services Program | -650 | The Budget proposes eliminating the Shelter and Services Program. |
| Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Screening | -247 | The Budget reduces Transportation Security Officer levels. |
Join us on Thursday, June 5th, from 6:00-6:45 P.M. ET for CCAN’s lobby training. We’ll be learning best practices and how tos for lobbying Senate staff on the issue of protecting the clean energy tax credits that have brought tens of thousands of jobs into our states.
In addition to jobs, these investments help lower energy costs and enable the decarbonization that is required to protect against the worst effects of climate change. We’ll learn how to best talk about these issues, the details of the clean energy tax credits we’re fighting for, and how to schedule these meetings with your Senator’s office. Join us this Thursday at 6:00 P.M. ET.
Subcommittee hearing.
Witness:
| Program Name | $ Change from 2025 Enacted (in millions) | Brief Description of Program and Recommended Reduction or Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Commerce | ||
| Increases | ||
| Fair Trade and Trade Enforcement | +134 | The Budget includes $134 million to strengthen trade enforcement. This includes an additional $122 million for the Bureau of Industry and Security. These new funds would also increase antidumping and countervailing duty investigations. |
| Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations | ||
| Economic Development Administration (EDA) and Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) | -624 | EDA programs are cut. MBDA is fully eliminated. |
| National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)—Operations, Research, and Grants | -1,311 | The Budget terminates a variety of climate-related research, data, and grant programs. |
| NOAA—Procurement of Weather Satellites and Infrastructure | -209 The Budget rescopes NOAA’s Geostationary and Extended Observ by canceling contracts for instruments designed primarily for climate measurements. | |
| National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) | -325 | Climate and environmental grants like NIST’s Circular Economy Program are eliminated. |
| International Trade Administration (ITA)—Global Markets | -145 | The Budget refocuses ITA’s footprint to countering China and securing access to fossil-fuel and mineral resources. |
| Department of Justice (DOJ) | ||
| Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations | ||
| Reduce State and Local Grant Programs | -1,019 | The Budget proposes to eliminate nearly 40 DOJ grant programs. The Budget eliminates programs such as Community Based Approaches to Advancing Justice, as well as programs that focus on hate crimes. Further, the Budget cuts Violence Against Women Act funding. |
| Cut the FBI | -545 | The Budget reflects a new focus on counterintelligence and counterterrorism, while reducing non-law enforcement missions, including DEI programs and intelligence activities. |
| DEA International Capacity | -212 | The Budget targets DEA’s foreign spending to Mexico, Central America, South America, and China. |
| Refocus ATF Enforcement and Regulatory Priorities | -468 | The Budget cuts funding for ATF offices and background checks. |
| General Legal Activities | -193 | The Budget focuses funding for General Legal Activities on the Civil Division ($441 million), and the Criminal Division ($220 million). The Budget reduces funding for the Civil Rights Division and the Environment and Natural Resources Division. |
| National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) | ||
| Increases | ||
| Human Space Exploration | +647 | The Budget allocates over $7 billion for lunar exploration and introduces $1 billion in new investments for Mars-focused programs. |
| Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations | ||
| Space Science | -2,265 | In line with the Administration’s objectives of returning to the Moon before China and putting a man on Mars, the Budget would reduce lower priority research and terminate unaffordable missions such as the Mars Sample Return mission that is grossly overbudget and whose goals would be achieved by human missions to Mars. The mission is not scheduled to return samples until the 2030s. |
| Mission Support | -1,134 | The Budget cuts the workforce, IT services, NASA Center operations, facility maintenance, and construction and environmental compliance activities. |
| Earth Science | -1,161 | The Budget eliminates funding for climate monitoring satellites and restructures the Landsat Next mission. |
| Legacy Human Exploration Systems | -879 | The Budget phases out the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule after three flights. budget. The Budget funds a program to replace SLS and Orion flights to the Moon with commercial systems. The Budget also proposes to terminate the Gateway, a small lunar space station in development with international partners, which would have been used to support future SLS and Orion missions. |
| Space Technology | -531 | The Budget reduces Space Technology by approximately half, including eliminating space propulsion projects. The reductions also scale back or eliminate technology projects in favor of private sector research and development. |
| International Space Station | -508 | The Budget reflects the transition to a commercial approach to human activities in space. The Budget reduces the space station’s crew size and onboard research, preparing for a decommissioning of the station by 2030 and replacement by commercial space stations. Crew and cargo flights to the station would be significantly reduced. |
| Aeronautics | -346 | The Budget eliminates climate-focused green aviation spending. |
| Office of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Engagement | -143 | NASA will cut STEM programming and research. |
| National Science Foundation (NSF) | ||
| Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations | ||
| General Research and Education | -3,479 | The Budget cuts funding for: climate; clean energy; social, behavioral, and economic sciences; and other programs. Funding for Artificial Intelligence and quantum information sciences research is maintained at current levels. |
| Broadening Participation | -1,130 | All DEI-related programs at NSF are eliminated. |
| Agency Operations and Awards Management | -93 | This reduction to operations aligns with the Agency’s reduced size. |
Subcommittee markup.
| Department of Agriculture (USDA) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Increases | ||
| Program | (millions of $) | Description |
| Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) | +15 | FSIS inspects meat, poultry, and egg product plants to ensure food safety nationwide. Several States have their own equivalent inspection program, and FSIS shares in the cost of these programs. Increases are needed to support increased production and demand for services. |
| Rental Assistance Grants | +74 | The Budget provides funding to renew the rental assistance grant contracts at $1.7 billion. This prevents the default of the $9 billion in USDA underwritten multifamily housing direct loans, that depend on the rental assistance grants for the debt service. |
| Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations | ||
| Program | (millions of $) | Description |
| National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) | -602 | The Budget eliminates programming in NIFA, such as activities related to climate change, renewable energy, and promoting DEI in education that were prioritized under the Biden Administration. In addition, the Budget reduces funding for formula grants. Instead, the Budget focuses on the merit-based Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. The Budget protects funding to youth and K-12 programs such as 4-H clubs, tribal colleges, and universities. It also ensures HBCUs are amply funded. |
| Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and USDA Research Statistical Agencies | -159 | The Budget reduces funding for research sites across the Nation and reduces funding for research projects. The Budget also makes small reductions to the Economic Research Service and National Agricultural Statistics Service to stop climate research added by the Biden Administration while ensuring some analysis and data collection continues. |
| Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)—Private Lands Conservation Operations | -754 | The Budget eliminates discretionary funding for conservation technical assistance. While funding has helped producers deploy conservation practices on their lands, many have been forced to participate in the program in order to comply with State environmental regulations such as California’s Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program, which regulates agricultural runoff. |
| NRCS Watershed Operations | -16 | The Budget eliminates funding to renovate locally owned dams in the NRCS Watershed Programs. These programs received an influx of funding through IIJA. Currently, there is over $100 million in unobligated balances between the two programs. |
| Rural Development Programs | -721 | Infrastructure loans are prioritized for aging rural water and wastewater systems, as well as technical assistance through the “Circuit Rider” program balanced with reductions in the grants. Other specialty water grants and earmarks are not funded except where the tax base cannot support loans, including maintaining funding for Native American Tribes. Community facility grants are eliminated, as the Congress has been earmarking nearly 100 percent of them. No new USDA funding is needed for broadband expansion. The Budget would also eliminate rural business programs, single family housing direct loans, self-help housing grants, telecommunications loans, and rural housing vouchers. Rural Development salaries and expenses are reduced commensurately. |
| Farm Service Agency (FSA) Salaries and Expenses: Farm Production and Conservation-Business Center (FPACBC) | -358 | The first Trump Administration placed the FSA, NRCS, and Risk Management Agency under one umbrella: FPAC-BC. The staff-heavy FSA struggles with hiring due in part because of labor market competition. The Budget reduces funding in order to reflect the Agency’s plans for efficiencies, which include improving online services. |
| National Forest System Management | -392 | The Budget reduces salaries and expenses by $342 million, and saves an additional $50 million by eliminating funding for the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration program, and reducing funding for recreation, vegetation and watershed management, and land management regulation. The Budget fully supports the Executive Order 14225, “Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production,” to improve forest management and increase domestic timber production. The requested funding level supports timber sales, hazardous fuels removal, mineral extraction, grazing, and wildlife habitat management. |
| Forest Service Operations | -391 | The Budget reduces funding for expenses including salaries and facility leases to streamline the Agency’s management structure and reduce their real property footprint. |
| State, Local, Tribal, and NGO Conservation Programs | -303 | The Budget reduces grant programs that subsidize management of State and privately-owned forests. While the Budget provides reduced support for Federal wildland fire management activities, these partners should be encouraged to fund their own community preparedness and risk mitigation activities. |
| Forest and Rangeland Research (Except Forest Inventory and Analysis) | -300 | The President has pledged to manage national forests for their intended purpose of producing timber. The Budget reduces funding for the Forest and Rangeland Research program because it is out of step with timber production, but maintains funding for Forest Inventory and Analysis, a longstanding census of forest resources and conditions. |
| Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) | -425 | The Budget ends CSFP and replaces it with MAHA food boxes. The MAHA food boxes provide food directly to seniors. Unlike the current approach using food banks, which provide those in need with shelf-stable foods, MAHA boxes would be filled with commodities sourced from domestic farmers and given directly to American households. |
| McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program | -240 | The McGovern-Dole Food for Education program buys agricultural commodities from U.S. farmers and donates them in the form of foreign aid. Only a small portion of the program’s funding goes toward purchasing U.S. commodities, given the high transportation costs and large portion of funding provided for technical assistance. While these donated commodities totaled only $37 million in 2023 (0.01 percent of all U.S. crop sales), they undercut commodity prices in markets abroad. The elimination of this program is consistent with the elimination of other in-kind international food donation programs in the Budget, including Food for Progress and Food for Peace Title II Grants. |
A business meeting to consider nominations and legislation.
Legislation: