The full budget proposal is expected to continue the skinny budget’s call earlier this year to slash the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget to $5.7 billion, according to the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, which on May 19 released figures it said came “directly from an administration document.” In addition to spending for EPA and other agencies, the new budget will include projections for mandatory spending on programs such as Social Security and Medicare, along with blueprints for spending and tax revenues over the next decade.
Members of Congress—including some Republicans—have been critical of Trump’s called-for cuts to EPA as well as to Energy Department research and development efforts, among other programs.
Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney will appear before the House Budget Committee on May 24 and Senate Budget Committee on May 25 to further outline the administration’s proposals.
Also coming up the week of May 22: Water Pollution Permits: The House is taking up a bill (H.R.
Tiffany Stecker will cover the House Rules Committee hearing on the bill on May 22.
Special Election: A special election will be held May 25 for Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s old House seat representing Montana.
As Bloomberg BNA’s Rachel Leven has reported, the result won’t change the state of play in Washington, but offers stark options for Montanans when it comes to how they want to be represented on energy and environment policy.
FERC, DOE Nominations: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on May 25 will consider the nominations of Rob Powelson and Neil Chatterjee to be FERC commissioners and for Dan Brouillette to be Deputy Secretary of Energy.
Rebecca Kern will cover.
Pruitt Talks: EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt is among the invited speakers May 24 at Faegre Baker Daniels’ annual energy and environmental symposium in Washington, D.C. Brian Dabbs will report.