House Approps cuts legislative, agency FY2012 budgets

The House Appropriations Committee is funding the legislative branch at 6 percent below last year\'s level, according to the FY2012 appropriations bill released...

This story has been updated from its original version.

By Jolie Lee
Federal News Radio

The House Appropriations Committee is cutting spending levels at several large agencies in the FY2012 budget.

The committee released draft appropriations bills this week that outlines funding levels for Commerce, Justice and Interior, as well as science and environment programs.

House Approps also cut funding for the legislative branch – setting appropriations at 6 percent below last year’s level.

“This cut reflects our willingness to cut spending starting in our own backyards, while maintaining essential operations and security efforts to ensure the safe and productive operations of the Capitol for the thousands of people that work in and visit the Capitol complex every day,” said House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) in a statement.

In the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill for FY 2012, funding is down 6 percent from last year The appropriations in the draft bill is 13 percent less than the President’s request for FY2012, according to a committee release.

Among the cuts:

  • NASA’s budget is funded at $16.8 billion, reduced by $1.6 from last year. The space operations budget is down 25 percent.
  • The Government Printing Office is funded at $113 million – $22 million below last year’s level.
  • The Government Accountability Office is funded at $511 million – $35 million below last year’s level.
  • The U.S. Census took a 25 percent cut from last year’s level. The agency is funded at $855 million in the bill.
  • The Office of Science and Technology Policy’s budget is cut by more than 50 percent – from $6.6 million to $3 million.

The Interior-Environment appropriations bill sets FY 2012 funding at $27.5 billion – $106 million below last year’s level.

Within the bill, the Environmental Protection Agency takes a 18 percent cut from the previous year. Also, climate change programs are cut by 22 percent and land acquisition funding reduced by 79 percent.

“The EPA has been funded at unparalleled high levels over the past several years, leading to wasteful and unnecessary spending within the agency, as well as contributing to the agency’s regulatory over-reach, which has a detrimental effect on American businesses and the recovering economy,” according to a House Appropriations Committee release.

Some programs did have increases. The Department of Justice is funded at $26 billion, $1 billion below last year’s level. However, programs within DOJ were funded at higher levels. The bill slightly increases appropriations for the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Prison System over last year’s budget.

“This funding level will provide for the continuation of critical legal and security activities at DOJ, while trimming spending in lower priority and non-essential areas,” according to a House Appropriations Committee release.

The release points to a nearly 40 percent cut in administrative activities at DOJ.

See a chart comparing the FY2012 legislative branch appropriations with last year’s levels and the President’s request.

See a chart comparing the FY2012 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations with last year’s levels and the President’s request.

See a chart comparing the FY2012 Interior and Environment appropriations with last year’s levels and the President’s request.

Copyright © 2024 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.