Pruitt Testifies on Proposed FY 2018 Budget for EPA At Senate Hearing

On Tuesday, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt testified before the Senate Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee about President Trump’s FY 2018 budget proposal for EPA. Under President Trump’s plan, EPA's funding would be cut by roughly 30 percent, or more than $2 billion, down to $5.65 billion.

Pruitt defended the budgets cuts and said the Trump Administration was returning EPA to its core mission, focusing on rule of law and process. “I believe that we can fulfill the mission of our agency with a trim budget, through proper leadership and management. We will work with Congress to help focus on national priorities with respect to the resources that you provide,” Pruitt said. He added, “We will continue to focus our efforts on our core responsibilities, working cooperatively with the states to improve our air, land and water.”

Senators on both sides of the aisle expressed some concerns with the proposed cuts. “Given that the subcommittee has already reduced spending at the agency, I don’t believe that we can achieve the level of budget cuts proposed in the [FY 2018] budget and effectively move forward with the ‘Back to Basics’ approach that I do support,” Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said. Additionally, Ranking Member Tom Udall (D-NM) took issue with the cuts to research, enforcement, Superfund and environmental justice, among other programs.

Meanwhile, PMAA sent a joint letter to House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY) last week urging them to reject President Trump’s FY 2018 budget request of $47 million for the Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Trust Fund Program because the funding amount is inadequate. In previous years, Congress has appropriated between $90 - $100 million each year; an amount PMAA would like Congress to continue to appropriate.