After weeks of uncertainty, Congress approved legislation that the president signed in early May to fund the government through the end of September.
In the lead-up to this announcement, White House and congressional leaders had been putting intense pressure on Congress to entrench militarized foreign and domestic policies as part of the budget deal. The administration wanted to add $30 billion for the Pentagon and additional money to fund the border wall and punish immigrants.
In many places, Congress pushed back on President Trump’s proposed changes, although we remain concerned about significant increases to Pentagon spending and border militarization.
Building a Budget
- December 2016: the Republican-controlled Congress delayed passage of a funding bill in order to give the new president time to weigh in with his priorities rather than passing an Obama budget.
- March 2017: President Trump submitted what he called a “hard power” budget for fiscal year 2018 – funding militarized foreign and domestic policy at the expense of environmental protection, international cooperation, and programs that keep our communities healthy and secure. He also requested extra funding for military and immigration enforcement in the current fiscal year – the spending deal Congress just made.
- May 2017: Congress passed a deal on current fiscal year spending, which will be in effect at least through September 30, 2017.
- Summer-Fall 2017: Congress will negotiate spending for FY18, which officially begins on October 1, 2017.
What’s in the Fiscal Year 2017 Spending Bill?
Pentagon Spending
Budget Request
President Trump asked for $30 billion for the Pentagon for the current fiscal year, on top of the existing $600+ billion in the existing budget. For FY18, he requested an additional $54 billion, with corresponding cuts to other programs.
What Happened
Congress approved an additional $15 billion in Pentagon spending, about half of what the administration asked for. This is less than the administration wanted, but still a disappointing increase that rewards the one cabinet agency that can’t even [audit its own spending] (https://www.ernst.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/a7caf951-54f5-484c-b0b1-d0c9df53b371/F01B08C14EE943CFD36435A8F892138D.senernstdodauditletter.pdf).
Through some budgeting sleight-of-hand, this additional money doesn’t count towards the Pentagon’s base budget, which is capped by law. By putting the increase in the Overseas Contingency Operations fund, Congress avoids the automatic across-the-board cuts that would result from breaking those budget caps – but also further skews the parity between domestic and military spending that law is designed to enforce.
The continued emphasis on military responses to the threats we face in today’s world only entrenches violence and failed war strategies. When we blindly hand over our country’s resources to the Pentagon while starving successful programs that care for our neighbors, the earth, and each other, we have lost sight of our priorities as a country. We also deprive our leaders and our country of the necessary tools to avoid war.
The FCNL community worked hard to convince members of Congress to oppose new Pentagon spending and the fact that President Trump did not get his full $30 billion is a success. But members of Congress need to know that $15 billion is too much and we still have a lot of work to do to keep the Pentagon budget from rising further as we head into negotiations about the 2018 budget.
Immigration
Budget Request
President Trump asked for $3 billion in supplemental funding for the current fiscal year to implement his executive order including money for his promised concrete border wall, additional enforcement agents, and expanded immigration detention.
What Happened
Congress held the line on certain measures and did not fund President Trump’s signature concrete border wall and hiring additional agents. However, they also included $1.5 billion for “border security” including money to change hiring practices for border patrol agents, further develop technology, surveillance, and maintain and expand existing wall and fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border that push migrants to take more deadly routes.
Congress also expanded immigrant detention by 5,000 beds, further entrenching an unjust practice. In a somewhat surprising twist, Congress finally eliminated the congressional immigrant detention quota which required the Department of Homeland Security to maintain no fewer than 34,000 beds in immigrant detention on a daily basis.
The elimination of this quota is the culmination of years of advocacy, paired with a tumultuous political moment as DHS pushes Congress to fund expanded detention well above the original 34,000 quota. Though far from a whole victory, the elimination of this quota means that as we continue our work to reduce the number of immigrants in detention, Congress has more flexibility to fund fewer beds in detention. FCNL is grateful for the work of our congressional allies and network on this issue, and together we will continue to work to end the injustices of immigrant detention.
Peacebuilding
Budget Request
President Trump proposed slashed funding for diplomacy and development. He recommended slashing funding for diplomacy and development by 30% for FY18 specifically targeting peacebuilding accounts such as the Complex Crises Fund and the U.S. Institute of Peace.
What Happened
The FY17 funding bill largely rejects President Trump’s proposed cuts to non-military foreign policy initiatives and sets the stage for push back against the president’s FY 18 proposals. It preserves key peacebuilding accounts, including the Complex Crises Fund and the U.S. Institute of Peace. These expenditures help our government prevent violence before it breaks out and create a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world.
The funding bill also preserved many other essential programs that fund human rights and democracy programs as well as core funding for the State Department and USAID. While this spending bill doesn’t guarantee that peacebuilding programs will remain funded for FY18, it’s a promising sign that Congress will push back on cuts going forward.
Environment
Budget Request
President Trump’s proposed budget for FY18 drastically reduced or eliminated funding for many climate, clean energy, research, and environmental programs, including a 31 percent cut to the Environmental Protection Agency
What Happened
The vast majority of accounts on the chopping block were fully funded in the budget passed for FY17. This is important as we look to preserve this funding for FY18.
For example, the Environmental Protection Agency’s science and technology budget slightly decreased from FY16 enacted funds, but overall still received the majority of its funding, including its clean air and climate programs. The environmental justice program maintained its FY16 levels, which is important given that President Trump wants to eliminate this office moving forward. Trump has also proposed zeroing out funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Chesapeake Bay clean up, both which received full funds for FY17. An assistance grant to Alaska Native villages also remains fully funded, as well as funds to clean up brownfields projects.
At the Department of Energy, we were pleased to see that the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy office actually increased its funding by $265 million from its FY16 enacted level, which is critical given Trump’s proposal to eliminate that entire office. This year, the State & Foreign Operations budget explicitly prohibits funding for the Green Climate Fund for FY17. While President Obama already made the payment earlier in January of $500 million for FY17 – by pulling from other funds at the State Department – this language will make it very difficult for the Green Climate Fund to receive funds in FY18.
Included in the budget is a provision that declares the burning of trees “carbon neutral.” President Obama had included a veto threat over this provision last year, but it unfortunately made it in for FY17.