First White House Budget Request is Panned

BU IN DC

School of Public Health Dean Sandro Galea gave a presentation on the impact of structural racism on health disparities at a workshop hosted by National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities on May 22.

Dennis Carlberg of Sustainability participated in the Urban Land Institute’s Ten Principles of Resilient Land Use and Development workshop between May 23 and 25.

Rachel Lapal of Marketing & Communications met with leaders at several higher education publications on May 24.

 

FIRST WHITE HOUSE BUDGET REQUEST IS PANNED

On Tuesday, the Trump Administration released its proposed fiscal year (FY) 2018 budget request, a more detailed version of its previously released “budget blueprint.” Reactions from key members of Congress were largely negative. It is unlikely the proposal will be enacted, including the research and student aid cuts that would be harmful to research universities:

  • National Institutes of Health: Requests $26.9 billion, a 21.1% decrease.  Proposes to cap facilities & administrative cost reimbursement at 10% and streamline regulatory burden through “targeted approaches.”  
  • National Science Foundation: Requests $6.7 billion, an 11% decrease.
  • Department of Defense Basic Research: Requests $2.2 billion, a 12.1% decrease.  
  • NASA Science: Requests $1.75 billion for Earth Science, an 8.7% decrease, and $1.92 billion for Planetary Science, a 4.5% increase.
  • Department of Energy: Requests $4.5 billion for the Office of Science, a 17% decrease, and requests elimination of ARPA-E.
  • National Endowments for the Humanities and the Arts: Requests elimination of both agencies.
  • Department of Education: Requests $5.78 million for Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN), a 79.4% decrease; $808.3 million for TRIO programs, a 14.9% decrease; and requests elimination of International Education programs.
  • Student aid: Keeps Pell Grants at their current award level of $5,920; requests $500 million for Federal Work-Study, a 49.5% decrease; and requests elimination of subsidized Stafford loans and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

Congress will now begin crafting the spending bills to fund the government for FY 2018. Given the significant delay of the White House budget release, the most likely scenario this fall will be a continuing resolution that keeps the government operational at current levels for at least several months past the start of the next fiscal year on October 1.

Read an analysis

 

CONGRESS DISCUSSES HIGHER EDUCATION

Several Congressional committees held hearings this week to examine issues affecting the higher education and research community:

  • Two subcommittees of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee heard testimony regarding facilities and administrative costs allocated to National Science Foundation grant awards.
  • The House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development took a closer look at student outcomes and data transparency practices in higher education, and how better information could be made available to individuals choosing a college.
  • U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos touted the Administration’s budget proposals before a House Appropriations subcommittee, and promised that students who were defrauded by several for-profit colleges that closed will remain eligible for loan forgiveness.

 

BUZZ BITS…

A Note to Our Readers: Due to the Memorial Day Congressional Work Period, Beltway Buzz will not publish next week.

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