A preliminary 2018 federal budget proposal announced by the Trump administration on March 15 would pay for increased defense spending by cutting funds for some agencies and eliminating others altogether.
That proposed budget, covering discretionary, but not mandatory spending, would hit hardest at the Environmental Protection Agency, State Department and Department of Agriculture, and eliminate funds for 19 agencies, including the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities and U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.
At the same time, that proposed budget would make a down payment on a huge wall at the U.S.-Mexico border and school voucher programs.
The announcement triggered quick responses from Alaska’s congressional delegation, including this brief one from Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska:
“This budget isn’t going anywhere. The president has an obligation to propose a budget, but it’s Congress’ responsibility tow rite the budget and set spending.”
“This budget request is the first step in a long process through which Congress decides which programs to fund and how much funding those programs should receive,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee and chairs the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee.
“The president’s budget expresses his priorities, and we will consider them, but ist is the congressional budget and appropriations committees that will establish our priorities and fund them over the coming months,” Murkowski said.
Murkowski said the fiscal 2018 defense budget will be extremely important to Alaska as the state prepares to receive F-35s at Eielson, strengthens missile defense and pushes to enhance the readiness of the two Army combat brigades based in Alaska. But she added that she cannot support many of the proposed cuts.
“Programs like Essential Air Service, Low Income Heating Assistance, and water and wastewater programs are critical to the health, welfare and safety of Alaskans, especially those in our remote, rural communities,” she said. “We need to remember that these programs are not the primary drivers of our debt, and to look at the full budget to find the best ways to reduce federal spending.”
Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, also noted that Congress holds the power of the purse on the federal budget.
“Increased funding for our national defense and homeland security, and cuts to agencies that have stifled economic growth over the last eight years. However, some of the specific cuts in this budget disproportionately target rural economies across our country, including in Alaska, and some don’t align with the commitments made by members of the Trump administration during their confirmation process and hearings,” he said.
