Bush's Proposed Budget Makes Deep Cuts

On April 9, 2001, President Bush unveiled his first budget saying that it represents “compassionate conservatism.” Under this proposal, federal spending would rise by $104 billion or 5.6 percent in the fiscal year that begins October 1, 2001. However, many departments, agencies and programs face deep cuts in discretionary spending from current levels.
The budget for protecting the environment and conserving natural resources would be reduced by 6.7 percent, to $26.6 billion next year. Officials at the Department of Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency voice their support for the President’s budget saying that the budget cuts represent reversions to “normal” levels after an unusually high surge in environmental spending in past years.

In terms of new spending, a grant of $450 million, up from $90 million this year, would go to states for programs designed to improve recreation and conserve wildlife habitat. Another grant of $25 million would help finance state efforts to enforce environmental laws, in keeping with an effort to shift some of the responsibility for environmental protection away from the federal government and into the hands of state governments. The proposed budget contains provisions that have environmental groups alarmed, including $5 million set aside for studies aimed at preparing to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve.

In the coming months, Congress will carefully examine the proposed budget as appropriation decisions are made for the approaching 2002 fiscal year. To learn more about the President’s budget, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/.