Hill Heat

Full committee hearing.

Witnesses:

• Nicholas Friant, Chairman, Grain Grades and Weights Committee, National Grain and Feed Association, Chanhassen, MN
• Kia Mikesh, President, American Association of Grain Inspection and Weighing Agencies, Fargo, ND
• Brandon Wipf, Board of Directors Member, American Soybean Association, Huron, SD

07/29/2025 at 03:00PM

Full committee markup has been postponed.

Budget request:

Department of Labor
Program Name	$ Change from 2025 Enacted (in millions)	Brief Description of Program and Recommended Reduction or Increase
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
Make America Skilled Again (MASA) Grant Consolidation	-1,640	States would have to spend at least 10 percent of their MASA grant on apprenticeship.
Job Corps	-1,584	The Budget eliminates Job Corps.
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)	-405	SCEP is eliminated.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Increases
Make America Healthy Again (MAHA)	+500	Building on the work of the President’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission and Executive Order 14212, “Establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission,” the Budget provides $500 million for the MAHA initiative.
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)	-4,025	The Budget proposes to end this program.
Refugee and Unaccompanied Alien Children Programs (UAC)	-1,970	Refugee arrivals have dropped significantly under Executive Order 14163, “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program.” The Budget proposes eliminating these programs.
Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)	-770	The Budget proposes to eliminate this program.
Preschool Development Grants (PDG)	-315	The Budge proposed to eliminate this program.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Consolidations	-1,732	The Budget consolidates a variety of programs that are part of HRSA, including the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program activities, such as: education and training (-$74 million); multiple Maternal and Child Health programs (-$274 million); multiple Health Workforce Programs (-$1 billion) which provide scholarships and support for individuals to enter medical careers; and family planning programs (-$286 million). The Budget maintains $6 billion for other activities.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Programs	-3,588	The Budget proposes merging multiple programs into one grant program. Specifically, the Budget proposes consolidating funding for Infectious Disease and Opioids, Viral Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Tuberculosis programs into one grant program funded at $300 million. The Budget eliminates programs including: the National Center for Chronic Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion; National Center for Environmental Health; National Center for Injury Prevention and Control; the Global Health Center; Public Health Preparedness and Response; and the Preventive Health and Human Services Block Grant. The Budget maintains more than $4 billion for CDC.
National Institute of Health (NIH)	-17,965	The Budget proposes to consolidate multiple programs into five new focus areas with associated spending cuts: the National Institute on Body Systems Research; National Institute on Neuroscience and Brain Research; National Institute of General Medical Sciences; National Institute of Disability Related Research; and National Institute on Behavioral Health. The Budget also eliminates funding for the National Institute on Minority and Health Disparities (-$534 million), the Fogarty International Center (-$95 million), the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (-$170 million), and the National Institute of Nursing Research (-$198 million). This new structure retains the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health. The Budget maintains $27 billion for NIH research.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Eliminations	-1,065	The Budget proposes to eliminate SAMHSA and eliminate funding for the Mental Health Programs of Regional and National Significance, Substance Use Prevention Programs of Regional and National Significance, and the Substance Use Treatment Programs of Regional and National Significance.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)	-129	The Budget eliminates funding for grants and contracts. In the Budget, AHRQ’s functions would be a part of the new HHS Office of Strategy.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Program Management	-674	The Budget eliminates health equity-focused activities and Inflation Reduction Act-related outreach and education activities.
Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Hospital Preparedness Program	-240	The Budget eliminates funding for ASPR’s Hospital Preparedness Program.
Administration for a Healthy America— Sexual Risk Avoidance Program and Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, HHS Office on Women’s Health, HHS Office of Minority Health	-180	The Budget eliminates the Sexual Risk Avoidance Program. The Budget also eliminates the Teen Pregnancy Prevention program. The Budget also reduces funding levels for the HHS Office of Minority Health and Office on Women’s Health. These programs are under the Office of Assistant Secretary of Health. Consistent with the recently announced HHS reorganization, the Budget relocates these programs within the newly formed Administration for Healthy America.
Department of Education (ED)
Increases
Charter Schools	+60	The Budget invests $500 million, a $60 million increase, to expand the number of charter schools.
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
Replace K-12 Programs with state grants	-4,535	The K-12 Simplified Funding Program consolidates 18 competitive and formula grant programs into a new $2 billion formula grant. The Budget preserves full funding for Title I, the supplemental Federal financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families.
Special Education Simplified Funding Program	--	The Special Education Simplified Funding Program consolidates seven Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs into a formula grant.
TRIO programs and Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP)	-1,579	TRIO and GEAR UP are eliminated.
Federal Work-Study (FWS)	-980	The Budget cuts FWS and distributes remaining funding to institutions that serve the most low-income students and provide a wage subsidy to gain career-oriented opportunities to improve long-term employment outcomes of students.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)	-910	The Budget proposes to eliminate SEOG.
English Language Acquisition	-890	The Budget proposes to eliminate the English Language Acquisition program.
Adult Education	-729	The Budget proposes to eliminate Adult Education programs.
Migrant Education and Special Programs for Migrant Students	-428	The Budget eliminates these programs.
ED Program Administration	-127	The Budget provides $293 million for program administration, a reduction of $127 million, or 30 percent with the intention of eliminating the Department of Education.
Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Ed (FIPSE) and Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need	-195	The Budget proposes eliminating this program.
Strengthening Institutions	-112	The Budget proposes to eliminate this program.
Teacher Quality Partnerships	-70	The Budget proposes to eliminate this program.
Training and Advisory Services— Equity Assistance Centers	-7	The Budget eliminates Equity Assistance Centers.
Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS)	-75	The Budget proposes to eliminate CCAMPIS.
Howard University	-64	The Budget reduces funding for Howard University to the 2021 Budget level.
Office for Civil Rights (OCR)	-49	The Budget provides OCR with $91 million, a reduction of $49 million, or 35 percent, compared to the 2024 enacted level.
Small Agency Eliminations
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
400 Years of African American History Commission Corporation for National and Community Service (operating as AmeriCorps) Corporation for Public Broadcasting Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Institute of Museum and Library Sciences Inter-American Foundation Marine Mammal Commission National Endowment for the Arts National Endowment for the Humanities Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation U.S. African Development Foundation U.S. Agency for Global Media U.S. Institute of Peace U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Woodrow Wilson Center Presidio Trust	-3,586	The Budget includes the elimination of, or the elimination of Federal funding for, the following small agencies. Agencies in bold are in these appropriations bills.
Delta Regional Authority Denali Commission Northern Border Regional Commission Southeast Crescent Regional Commission Southwest Border Regional Commission Great Lakes Authority		The Budget eliminates six small regional commissions. The Budget continues funding for Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) operations at $14 million.

07/24/2025 at 10:00AM

Full committee markup has been postponed. Subcommittee markup was on July 15.

• Subcommittee mark
• GOP summary
• Democratic fact sheet
• Democratic summary
  • Provides $5.795 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is $387.453 million (6%) below the FY25 enacted level.
    • Includes $4.152 billion for NOAA Operations, Research, and Facilities, which is $257.186 million below the FY25 enacted level.
    • Includes $1.59 billion for NOAA procurement, acquisition, and construction, which is $129.967 million below the FY25 enacted level.
  • Provides $24.838 billion for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which is equal to the FY25 enacted level.
    • Science – $6 billion, $1.33 billion below the fiscal year 2025 enacted level and $2.1 billion above the request.
    • STEM Engagement – $84 million, $59 million below the fiscal year 2024 enacted level.
  • Provides $7 billion for the National Science Foundation, which is $2.06 billion (23%) below the FY25 enacted level.
  • Provides $1 million for the Marine Mammal Commission, which is $3.5 million (78%) below the FY25 enacted level

Budget request

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.

07/24/2025 at 10:00AM

On Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), will lead Committee Democrats in a spotlight forum on how the oil and gas industry is releasing methane into our air that is warming our planet, raising our cost of living, and choking our children—all while the Trump Administration makes it easier for these companies to pollute. The forum, titled “Mind Over Methane: The No-Brainer Climate, Economic, and Health Solution,” will highlight progress that many states, companies, and researchers are making on this issue despite federal rollbacks.

Speakers:

• Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
• Dr. Arvind Ravikumar, Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Austin, Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering; Co-Director of the Energy Emissions Monitoring and Data Laboratory
• Courtney Smith, First Principal Deputy Executive Officer at the California Air Resources Board
• Lori Ehrlich, Former Massachusetts State Representative; Former FEMA Region 1 Administrator
• Dr. Sarav Arunachalam, Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering; Research Professor and Deputy Director at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Institute for the Environment

Methane is a greenhouse gas more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide, and it is responsible for approximately one third of the rise in global temperatures. In the United States, the oil and gas sector is the largest industrial source of methane emissions: at every stage of fossil fuel production, this dangerous, poisonous, explosive gas is leaked or deliberately released into our atmosphere, where it pollutes our air, helps drive climate change-driven economic risks, and increases energy costs for families. Landfills are also a significant contributor of this pollution and are an emerging focus for state action.

Although much of the methane abatement work needed to address the climate and public health harms—particularly in the oil and gas sector—could be done at no net cost, the Trump Administration is considering rolling back methane mitigation rules for the fossil fuel industry, and the Department of Transportation has already canceled requirements to fix leaky natural gas pipelines. While a significant share of methane pollution comes from intentional releases, leaks alone waste over $1.5 billion worth of gas each year—losses that are passed on to consumers via higher energy bills.

07/24/2025 at 10:00AM

Full committee markup.

Interior and Environment Bill (S. 2431) Highlights:

• Department of the Interior: $15.1 billion for supporting management of National Parks, Refuges, and Forests, conservation and energy development on public lands and waters, and tribal trust responsibilities.
• National Park Service: $3.3 billion to support our nation’s parks, preserve historic sites, and sustain staffing capacity to address visitor services and park management needs.
• Indian Affairs (BIA and BIE): $3.9 billion, including support for important public safety and justice services, community and economic development, and probate programs. Contract support costs (CSC) and tribal lease payments are fully funded.
• Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT): PILT is fully funded to provide communities in 49 states and in the territories compensation for lost tax revenues resulting from federal land ownership within their jurisdiction.
• Wildland Fire Management: $6.4 billion is included for wildland fire management activities. Nearly $2.9 billion of this funding is made available through the wildfire suppression cap adjustment.
• Environmental Protection Agency: $8.6 billion in grants and program funding, including $2.8 billion for the Clean Water and Drinking Water Revolving Funds.
• U.S. Forest Service: $8.6 billion, which includes $10 million in funding to address Spruce Budworm mitigation activities. The bill also includes an increase of funding for Cooperative Fire Assistance and $6 million in funding to support the Northeastern States Research Cooperative.
• Indian Health Services: $8.1 billion, which includes funding for staffing new facilities and health care delivery services. CSC and tribal lease payments are fully funded and maintains advanced appropriations.
• Smithsonian Institution and the Holocaust Museum: $1.1 billion, including an increase in funding for the Holocaust Museum for expanding educational opportunities.
• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): $207 million for each Endowment.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Bill (S. 2465) highlights:

• Department of Transportation (DOT): $26.5 billion in discretionary budget authority.
• Office of the Secretary: $1.1 billion, including $250 million for the BUILD grant program and $513.6 million for the Essential Air Service program.
• Federal Aviation Administration: $22 billion, including $13.8 billion for Operations, $4 billion for Facilities and Equipment, $290 million for Research and Development, and $4 billion for Grants-in-Aid for Airports. This funding provides for an additional 2,500 new air traffic controllers and prioritizes investments to modernize outdated systems in our National Airspace.
• Federal Highway Administration: $63.3 billion, including $350 million for a competitive Rural Bridge Repair and Rehabilitation program, $25 million for high priority Tribal transportation projects, and $10 million for the National Scenic Byways Program.
• Federal Railroad Administration (FRA): $2.9 billion, including $2.4 billion for Amtrak, of which $1.6 billion is for the National Network, as well as $100 million is for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant program. Additionally, $4.8 million is provided for FRA’s Close Call Reporting System, as well as funding for railroad trespass prevention and positive train control support.
• Federal Transit Administration: $16.8 billion, including $1.9 billion for the Capital Investment Grants program, $1.1 billion for the bus and bus facilities program, and $55 million for the ferry program, which includes rural ferries.
• Maritime Administration: $874 million, including $75 million for the Port Infrastructure Development Program and $30 million for Assistance to Small Shipyards Grants. The bill also includes a total of $400 million for the Maritime Security Program, Cable Security Fleet, and Tanker Security Program, which are critical to national security. Additionally, $143 million is provided for State Maritime Academies and more than $160 million is provided for the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
• Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): $73.3 billion for rental assistance and self-sufficiency support for low-income working families, seniors, and the disabled; housing and services to homeless individuals; and support for economic and community development.
• Office of Public and Indian Housing: $47.4 billion, including $37.4 billion for Tenant-based Rental Assistance, $8.4 billion for the Public Housing Fund, $211 million for self-sufficiency programs, and $1.4 billion for Native American/Native Hawaiian programs.
• Office of Community Planning and Development: Nearly $11 billion, including $3.1 billion for the Community Development Block Grant program, $4.5 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, $1.2 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships program, $70 million for the Self-Help and Assisted Homeownership Opportunity Program, and $30 million for the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act recovery housing program.
• Office of Housing: $19 billion, including $17.8 billion for Project-based Rental Assistance, $972 million for Housing for the Elderly, and $265 million for Housing for Persons with Disabilities.
• Independent Agencies: $423.7 million, including $10 million for the Access Board, $40 million for the Federal Maritime Administration, $29.2 million for the Amtrak Inspector General, $145 million for the National Transportation Safety Board, $158 million for NeighborWorks, $40.8 million for the Surface Transportation Board, and $2 million for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

07/24/2025 at 09:30AM

Subcommittee hearing

Witnesses:

• Chad M. Orn, Deputy Director of Planning, North Dakota Department of Transportation
• Marisa Jones, Managing Director, Policy and Partnerships, Safe Routes Partnership
• Samantha Biddle, Deputy Secretary, Maryland Department of Transportation

07/23/2025 at 03:00PM

Full committee hearing

Nominee:

• Richard Fordyce, of Missouri, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation.

Richard Fordyce previously served in the Trump administration as the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency. His new role will oversee key agencies that directly serve farmers and ranchers, including the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Risk Management Agency (RMA).

Fordyce joined Osborn Barr Paramore as business growth director after serving in Trump’s FSA.

In 2013, Fordyce was named Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture in December 2013 by Governor Jay Nixon. Other organizations that Fordyce has held leadership positions in include the National Biodiesel Board, the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, Agricultural Leaders of Tomorrow, University of Missouri Extension and the Northwest Missouri State Fair. He is also one of only three directors from Missouri on the United Soybean Board.

Fordyce and his wife, Renee, grow soybeans and corn as well as raise beef cattle on the family farm in Harrison County.

07/23/2025 at 03:00PM

For communities around the country, environmental justice staff at the EPA and other federal agencies along with grantee organizations embody many of the most cherished and important values held in our society. They protect our health and our environment. They serve as public servants deeply concerned about the wellbeing of others, especially the most vulnerable.

As one of the bodies that helped launch the Environmental Justice Movement in the United States, the United Church of Christ (UCC) is committed to honoring these public servants in a time of uncertainty about the future of federal environmental justice programs.

In this service, we will honor those working on environmental justice with gratitude. We will gather together in strength, comfort, and solidarity as we renew our collective resilience as an ongoing movement.

Selected environmental justice staff will provide messages, along with environmental justice pioneers including:

• Charles Lee, retired Senior Policy Advisor for Environmental Justice at EPA
• Richard Moore, former Co-Chair of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council
• Dollie Burwell, leader of Warren County, North Carolina protests
• Rev. Benjamin Chavis, Jr., former director of United Church of Christ Commission for Racial Justice

The service will be led by the Rev. Terry Yasuko Ogawa, Area Conference Minister, SNEUCC and former UCC Dr. Charles E. Cobb Environmental Justice Resident.

RSVP

If you are unable to make the service at the scheduled time, a link to the recording will be sent to all those who register.

07/23/2025 at 01:00PM

Full committee markup.

• Subcommittee mark
• Democratic summary
• GOP summary
  • Prohibits funding in contravention of Trump's Executive Order 14162, including prohibiting funding to the Clean Technology Fund, Green Climate Fund, any compensation to countries for loss and damages attributed to climate change, and implementation of the Paris Agreement (SEC. 7061)
  • Mandates the United States advocate for "'all-of-the-above' energy policy" within multilateral development banks (SEC. 7029(i))
  • $292.6 million, $73 million below the fiscal year 2025 enacted level for Biodiversity.
  • $95 million, $23.75 million below the fiscal year 2025 enacted level for Wildlife Trafficking.

Department of State

• Detailed request

Department of State
Program Name	$ Change from 2025 Enacted (in millions)	Brief Description of Program and Recommended Reduction or Increase
Increases
America First Opportunity Fund (A1OF)	+2,900	The Budget includes $2.9 billion for a new America First Opportunity (A1OF) Fund.
U.S. International Development Finance Corporation	+2,820	The Budget increases the DFC. This investment includes $3 billion for a new revolving fund.
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
Economic Support Fund, Development Assistance, Democracy Fund, and Assistance for Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia	-8,326	The Budget eliminates funding for these programs and combines accounts into the single A1OF.
International Disaster Assistance, Migration and Refugee Assistance, and Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance (ERMA)—International Humanitarian Assistance (IHA)	-3,207	The Budget provides $1.5 billion in ERMA for the President to use at his discretion and consolidates accounts into a new $2.5 billion IHA account to fund disaster relief when it fulfills the President’s foreign policy aims.
State and USAID Operations	-2,462	Consistent with Executive Order 14169, the Budget eliminates USAID.
International Narcotics Control & Law Enforcement (INCLE)	-1,160	The Budget eliminates rule-of-law programs, while providing $125 million to fund programs that support counter-drug, organized crime, and border security missions.
Peacekeeping Missions	-1,614	The Budget does not provide funding for United Nations (UN) and other peacekeeping missions.
Assessed and Voluntary Contributions to International Organizations	-1,716	The Budget pauses most assessed and all voluntary contributions to UN and other international organizations, including for the UN Regular Budget, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and the World Health Organization.
Educational and Cultural Exchanges	-691	The Budget eliminates this program.
Transition Initiatives (TI)	-75	The Budget eliminates the TI account.
Complex Crisis Fund	-55	The Budget eliminates this account.
National Endowment for Democracy (NED)	-315	The Budget eliminates funding for NED.
Global Health Programs/Family Planning	-6,233	The Budget eliminates this program.
Food for Peace (Title II)	-1,619	The Budget eliminates this program.
Contribution to the Global Environmental Facility and Climate Investment Funds	-275	The Budget proposes to eliminate contributions to the Global Environment Facility and the Climate Investment Funds.
Contributions to Multilateral Development Banks (African Development Bank, African Development Fund)	-555	Consistent with Executive Order 14169, “Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid,” the Budget proposes to eliminate contributions to the African Development Fund.
Other Treasury International Reductions	-86	The Budget likewise proposes to eliminate several of the Department of the Treasury’s international assistance programs, including the Debt Restructuring account, and contributions to the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program.

07/23/2025 at 10:00AM

Full committee hearing.

Nominees:

• Katherine Scarlett to be a Member of the Council on Environmental Quality
• Jeffrey Hall to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance

Scarlett has been serving as the CEQ chief of staff since the start of the current administration; previously, she worked at CEQ and served as chief of staff to the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council during President Trump’s first administration. Additionally, she served as senior Republican professional staff on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee under Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.).

On February 19, 2025, Scarlett issued guidance in the form of a memorandum to the heads of federal agencies and departments (2025 CEQ Memo), providing direction on how agencies should update their existing NEPA procedures for consistency with the NEPA amendments in the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) (2023 NEPA Statute) and the policy priorities laid out in the various Executive Orders (EOs) from President Trump. She made clear that environmental justice and cumulative impacts don’t need to be considered.

Jeffrey Hall, previously a partner at oil-industry law firm Burke Law Group, is principal deputy assistant administrator in EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. At Burke, Hall represented Dr. Eithan Haim, an anti-trans surgeon who stole minor patient files and shared them with neo-Nazi activist Chris Rufo. The case against Haim was dropped by the DOJ days after Trump became president. Hall also represented the anti-trans organization Do No Harm. Hall also represented the State of Louisiana in arguments before the Fifth Court of Appeals in Texas v. EPA. The court ruled against Louisiana.

A March 12 memo from Hall lays out specific “initial guidance” on realigning the agency’s 2023 National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives with the Trump Administration’s stated goals. The memo provides that “enforcement and compliance assurance actions shall not shut down any stage of energy production . . . or power generation absent an imminent and substantial threat to human health or an express statutory or regulatory requirement to the contrary.” Further, actions that “would unduly burden or significantly disrupt energy production or power generation,” among other consequences, must be approved by Mr. Hall.

07/23/2025 at 10:00AM