President\u2019s Budget Releases, Proposes Deep Cuts to Science and Environmental Programs<\/a><\/strong> ESA Goes to the Hill for Climate Science Day<\/a><\/strong> Congress<\/a><\/strong> Executive Branch<\/a><\/strong> States<\/a><\/strong> International<\/a> Scientific Community<\/a><\/strong> Federal Register Opportunities<\/a><\/strong> ESA In the News<\/a> <\/a> The president\u2019s budget\u00a0is usually released\u00a0in February, but\u00a0it was delayed by the government shutdown\u00a0in December and January. The president\u2019s budget proposal reflects the administration\u2019s priorities across the federal government for the next fiscal year and serves as a starting point for Congress as it proceeds in appropriations. However, it is largely an aspirational document, and it is Congress that ultimately passes the twelve appropriations bills that fund the government. In a statement, House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) called Trump\u2019s request \u201cuntethered from reality\u201d and said that the budget has \u201cno chance of garnering the necessary bipartisan support to become law.\u201d Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) said that his committee\u00a0will\u201dcarefully review the President\u2019s proposal.\u201d<\/p>\n It is likely that Congress will again reject the severe cuts that the president has proposed for FY 2020, but there is a sticking point to overcome first. The Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA) applies to the FY 2020 budget, which requires a $1 trillion appropriations spending cut through a \u201csequester,\u201d sometime known as the \u201cbudget cap.\u201d In previous years, Congress passed legislation to provide sequestration relief that allowed agency spending increases, and it will need to act again this year. Budget caps would apply to to the Department of Defense, except for its Overseas Contingency Account, and the other agency discretionary budgets including the National Science Foundation, the Departments of Energy, Interior, and Agriculture. Most current Members of Congress were not in office in 2011 when the BCA passed, so its future is uncertain, but it is very relevant to the ecological community. ESA is a member of\u00a0NDD United<\/a>, an alliance of hundreds of national, state, and local organizations working to \u201cRaise the Caps\u201d and protect agency budgets. Additionally, ESA is submitting testimony to the relevant appropriation committees in the Senate and House to protect federal investment in the ecological sciences.<\/p>\n National Science Foundation<\/strong><\/p>\n Trump\u2019s budget provides $7.1 billion for the National Science Foundation, a 12 percent cut. Currently, only the top line number for NSF is available. Congress provides top level NSF funding and the agency sets the budget for each Directorate based on research priorities and input from the scientific community. The Coalition for National Science Funding, of which ESA is a member, is\u00a0requesting<\/a>\u00a0that Congress provide $9 billion for NSF in FY 2020.<\/p>\n Environmental Protection Agency<\/strong><\/p>\n The EPA receives a 31 percent cut, bringing the agency\u2019s total budget to $6.1 billion. Science and Technology programs would receive a 35 percent cut. The budget proposes cutting almost every EPA program and would cut hundreds of jobs from the agency. An EPA Budget-in-Brief document sets a cap of 12,415 full-time employees. The agency\u2019s current full-time employee ceiling is 14,376.<\/p>\n The budget proposal highlights and prioritizes the agency\u2019s regulatory rollbacks, including the Affordable Clean Energy rule, the Trump administration\u2019s replacement for the Clean Power Plan and the proposed redefinition of the Waters of the U.S.<\/p>\n As in past years, funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Chesapeake Bay Program is cut by 90 percent. Other geographic clean-up programs, including programs targeting the Puget Sound, the San Francisco Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are eliminated.<\/p>\n The final fiscal year 2018 and 2019 ($8.1 billion) budgets largely kept EPA funding flat and retained funding for regional programs.<\/p>\n ESA submitted testimony<\/a>\u00a0supporting $746 million for Science and Technology programs with the EPA.<\/p>\n Department of Energy<\/strong><\/p>\n The Office of Science would receive $5.5 billion, a 16 percent cut from FY 2019 ($5.4 billion) levels. The budget\u00a0eliminates\u00a0Advanced Research Projects\u00a0Agency \u2013 Energy\u00a0(ARPA-E).In recent years, lawmakers have provided record funding for the Office of Science and ARPA-E. ESA signed on to an\u00a0Energy Sciences Coalition letter<\/a>\u00a0urging appropriators to provide $7 billion for FY 2020.<\/p>\n Interior Department: US Geological Survey, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service<\/strong><\/p>\n As a whole, the U.S. Geological Survey\u00a0receives<\/a>\u00a0$983.5 million, a 16.7 percent cut from FY 2019 levels. USGS\u2019 Ecosystems mission area receives $141 million, a 10 percent cut. There are significant changes proposed that would consolidate five existing Ecosystem Programs into three programs: status and trends, fisheries, wildlife, environments\u00a0and\u00a0invasive species are rearranged into three new program areas titled species management research, land management research, and biological threats research. It also consolidates research from two Land Resource programs into the Climate Adaptation Science Center line item within Ecosystems. The Cooperative Research Unit program is zeroed out, but it is uncertain whether it is consolidated into the new program structure or eliminated. The National Land Imaging sub activity including operation and development of Landsat satellites and ground systems is moved over to the Core Science System mission area. Other details are scant and more information is needed to determine the scope of the proposed Ecosystem restructuring. Congress could try to prevent the administration from restructuring the Ecosystems mission area; at the very least, it will require more information and details before the restricting is implemented.<\/p>\n The USGS Coalition,\u00a0of which ESA is a member, submitted\u00a0testimony<\/a>\u00a0urging appropriators to provide $1.2 billion to USGS in FY 2020. ESA also submitted testimony requesting that Congress fully examine the proposed Ecosystem mission reorganization for unintended consequences.<\/p>\n The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service\u00a0receives<\/a>\u00a0$1.272 billion in appropriated funds, a 20 percent cut. Ecological Services, which administers the Endangered Species Act, receives a 4.6 percent cut. Fish and Aquatic Conservation receives a 7 percent cut. The National Wildlife Refuge System receives a 4.35 percent increase.<\/p>\n The Bureau of Land Management\u00a0receives<\/a>\u00a0a 20 percent cut and the National Park Service\u00a0receives<\/a>\u00a0a 16 percent cut.<\/p>\n The budget also requests $28 million to continue work on Interior\u2019s reorganization.<\/p>\n NOAA<\/strong><\/p>\n As in previous years, the president\u2019s budget proposes eliminating several \u201clower priority\u201d programs, including Sea Grant, Coastal Zone Management Grants, and the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund. Further budget information for NOAA is not available.<\/p>\n USDA<\/strong><\/p>\n The president\u2019s budget requests an $85 million dollar\u00a0increase for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), the USDA\u2019s competitive research grants program administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). AFRI received $415 million in FY 2019.<\/p>\n As a whole, NIFA receives $1.4 billion, a 6 percent cut. The request also includes $25 million to relocate NIFA and the Economic Research Service to a location outside the Washington, D.C. area. The Agricultural Research Service receives $1.253 billion, a 4 percent cut.<\/p>\n The Forest Service\u2019s FY 2020 Budget Request or the agency\u2019s top line number is not yet available.<\/p>\n NASA<\/strong><\/p>\n The Earth Science\u00a0Directorate\u00a0receives<\/a>\u00a0$1.730 billion, an 8 percent cut. As in past years, the budget proposes eliminating the Office of STEM Engagement and the PACE and CLARREO Pathfinder earth science missions.<\/p>\n <\/a> On March 12 and 13, the Climate Science Working Group (CSWG) held its 9th\u00a0annual Climate Science Day (CSD), an annual event that brings scientists to Washington, DC to meet with their Members of Congress to discuss climate science. As a member of the CSWG, ESA worked with other scientific societies to plan and execute the two-day event, which serves as a non-partisan opportunity for scientists to educate and build relationships with congressional staff.<\/p>\n Climate policy is a renewed focus on Capitol Hill. The House has held 15 climate-related hearings this year and it formed a Climate Select Committee, while the\u00a0 Senate\u2019s climate work is slower, its interest in the subject is growing. Many new Members of Congress are focused on the climate issue and the new House Democratic majority is changing the conversation, because it now controls the subject matter of committee hearings.<\/p>\n ESA member Matthew Hurteau of the University of New Mexico joined nearly twenty other scientists whose work relates to various aspects of climate science to participate in CSD this year. A half-day workshop on March 12 prepared participants for the next day of congressional visits and featured keynote speaker Ruth Greenspan Bell, a senior public policy fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center.<\/p>\n On March 13, Hurteau and the other scientists divided into teams based on geographic region and conducted nearly seventy visits with congressional office staff and committee staff. The primary request, known as an \u201cask,\u201d in these meetings was for the Member of Congress to publicly acknowledge (if they do not already) that climate change is occurring, poses serious risks, \u00a0is predominantly caused by humans and to use climate science in their decision-making. Scientists were encouraged to develop ongoing relationships with congressional staff and serve as a resource to them.<\/p>\n <\/a> Scientific Integrity Legislation:<\/strong>\u00a0Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced the Scientific Integrity Act that would amend the America COMPETES Act (H.R. 1709<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0S.775<\/a>). The bill seeks to standardize scientific integrity policies across federal agencies and prevent political influence in scientific data and reports.<\/p>\n Right Whales<\/strong>: The House Natural Resources Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and\u00a0Wildlife\u00a0held a\u00a0hearing<\/a>\u00a0about the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale and the threats to right whales. Freshman Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-SC), who campaigned on stopping offshore drilling near his coastal district and has a background in ocean engineering,\u00a0fired an air horn<\/a>to prove that seismic testing will disrupt marine mammals. Joe Oliver, the assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries, repeatedly testified that seismic testing activities\u00a0will\u00a0not kill or \u201cseriously injure\u201d right whales.<\/p>\n Dr. Scott Kraus, the vice president and senior science advisor in the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium\u00a0testified<\/a>that right whale mortalities have accelerated since 2010, while calving rates have fallen. Kraus said that NOAA Fisheries\u2019 Biological Opinion permitting seismic testing was flawed and\u00a0did\u00a0not adequately consider the cumulative impacts of seismic testing or the impacts of seismic noise on calves and calving. Dr. Chris Clark, the founding director of the Cornell Bioacoustics Research program,\u00a0testified<\/a>\u00a0that NOAA\u2019s seismic testing authorization is \u201cincredibly irresponsible and has a legitimate likelihood of causing significant impacts on right whale acoustic behavior.\u201d<\/p>\n Before the hearing, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Subcommittee Chairman Jared Huffman (D-CA) reintroduced the SAVE Right Whales Act (H.R. 1568<\/a>), which provides grants for collaborative projects between states, nonprofits,\u00a0and\u00a0the fishing and shipping industries to reduce the impacts of human activities on North Atlantic right whales.<\/p>\n Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee:<\/strong>\u00a0The committee held its first climate-focused\u00a0hearing<\/a>\u00a0since 2012 to \u201cexamine the electricity sector in a changing\u00a0climate.\u201d Committee leaders said that the hearing is the first in a series of hearing about energy policy and climate. In a\u00a0statement<\/a>\u00a0released after the hearing, Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said that, while the committee has \u201climited jurisdiction\u201d over climate change, it will work to craft \u201creasonable policies\u201d to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change. Conversely, the new House of Representatives Democratic majority has held 15 climate related hearings so far this year.<\/p>\n Murkowski and Committee Ranking Member Joe Manchin (D-WV) penned an\u00a0op-ed<\/a>\u00a0in the Washington Post echoing similar points and iterating the Senators\u2019 commitment to \u201cbipartisan solutions to help address climate change.\u201d<\/p>\n Legislative updates<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a> Nominations:\u00a0<\/strong>President Trump formally nominated Acting Secretary David Bernhardt to lead the Interior Department permanently March 8, after announcing his intention to do so February 4. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee has scheduled a\u00a0confirmation hearing<\/a>\u00a0for Bernhardt March 28.<\/p>\n The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced the nominations of Chris Fall to lead the Department of Energy\u2019s Office of Science and Lane\u00a0Genatowski\u00a0to lead the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). Fall is currently the principal deputy director of ARPA-E\u00a0and\u00a0previously worked in the Office of Naval Research and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Fall holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience. ESA signed on to an Energy Sciences Coalition\u00a0letter of support<\/a>\u00a0for Fall\u2019s nomination. It is unclear when the full Senate will vote on Fall\u2019s and Genatowski\u2019s nominations. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) indicated that she\u00a0will\u00a0place a hold on all Department of Energy nominees until the agency sets a date to remove plutonium secretly shipped from South Carolina to Nevada.<\/p>\n Interior:<\/strong>\u00a0Acting Secretary David Bernhardt\u00a0announced<\/a>\u00a0March 6 that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will remove endangered species protections for gray wolves in the contiguous United States. The Obama administration removed protections for gray wolves in 2013, but court decisions returned gray wolves to the endangered species list. Conservation groups will likely file similar court challenges this time. USFWS published a\u00a0proposed rule<\/a>\u00a0in the Federal Register March 15. Public comments on this rule can be submitted through May 14, 2019.\u00a0Protections for Mexican wolves and red wolves will not be affected by this proposed rule.<\/p>\n BLM:<\/strong>\u00a0The agency issued new\u00a0records of decision<\/a>\u00a0amending 2015 land-use plans intended to conserve greater sage-grouse. The new decisions weaken protections on 75 percent of the area covered by the 2015 plans and allow oil and gas development on public lands previously designated off-limits.<\/p>\n EPA:\u00a0<\/strong>The agency\u2019s Office of Research and Development will\u00a0consolidate<\/a>\u00a0its 13 current offices into eight offices. The Office of the Science Advisor will combine with the Office of Science Policy and parts of the National Center for Environmental Assessment to form the Office of Science Advisor, Policy, and Engagement. No staff will lose their job or be required to move to a new geographic location because of the reorganization. The EPA hopes to implement this reorganization by the beginning of\u00a0fiscal\u00a0year 2020 (i.e.\u00a0fall 2019).<\/p>\n <\/a> Minnesota:<\/strong>\u00a0Governor Tim Walz (D)\u00a0introduced<\/a>\u00a0a bill committing the state to\u00a0receive\u00a0100 percent of its energy from\u00a0carbon-free\u00a0sources by 2050. State Sen. Nick\u00a0Frentz\u00a0(D), who has championed similar legislation, said that the governor\u2019s bill\u00a0will\u00a0include nuclear and landfill burning as potential energy sources. The state\u2019s two largest utilities Xcel Energy and Minnesota power are supportive of the plan.<\/p>\n Nevada:\u00a0<\/strong>Governor Steve Sisolak (D)\u00a0announced<\/a>\u00a0that Nevada is joining the U.S. Climate Alliance, a group of states committed to meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. Nevada is the fifth state to join the group in 2019 and the 23rd\u00a0<\/sup>state in the group.<\/p>\n <\/a> Another UNEP\u00a0report<\/a>\u00a0released March 13 warns that, even if the world meets the goals of the Paris Agreement, Arctic winter temperatures will increase three to five degrees Celsius by 2050.<\/p>\n Brazil:<\/strong>\u00a0President Jair Bolsonaro\u00a0put a \u201cgag order<\/a>\u201d\u00a0the country\u2019s environmental enforcement agency, Ibama. A message from\u00a0Ibama\u2019s\u00a0press office instructs press to send all requests to the\u00a0Ministry\u00a0of the Environment.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Climate Science Legal Defense Fund:<\/strong>\u00a0A new\u00a0pocket guide<\/a>\u00a0advises scientists on advocacy and political engagement and pertinent U.S. anti-lobbying laws and requirements for scientists.<\/p>\n Center for Climate and Security:<\/strong>\u00a0Fifty-eight former national security officials, including former Secretary of State John Kerry and former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, sent a\u00a0letter<\/a>\u00a0to President Trump condemning the White House plan to create a taskforce questioning whether climate change poses a threat to national security. The officials warn that subjecting government scientific reports such as the National Climate Assessment to political tests will \u201cforce a blind spot on to national security assessments\u201d that depend on these scientific reports and \u201cerode our national security.\u201d<\/p>\n Democratic members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee members, led by Ranking Member Bob Menendez (D-NJ), introduced legislation (S. 745<\/a>) to require the State Department to establish a \u201cClimate Science Envoy\u201d responsible for integrating climate science information in national security operations in response to former national security officials\u2019 letter. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) also introduced a bill (S. 729<\/a>) that would prohibit federal agencies from spending funds on an \u201cadversarial\u201d review of climate science reports.<\/p>\n Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility:<\/strong>\u00a0The watchdog group\u00a0alleges<\/a>\u00a0that memos identifying research gaps\u00a0needed\u00a0to inform the environmental impact statement (EIS) for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge\u00a0were excluded\u00a0from the draft EIS. PEER has posted the memos\u00a0online<\/a>.<\/p>\n European Space Agency:<\/strong>\u00a0The Citizen Science Earth Observation Lab (CESOL) is a new initiative funded by the European Space Agency to help transform great ideas into great projects. The agency\u2019s first Call for Ideas is open until May 5, and it is offering support with project development and implementation, together with funding (between \u20ac15,000 and \u20ac70,000) to implement four pilot projects between September 2019 and December 2020. Everything you need to know about the competition is\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/a> Opportunities for Public Comment and Nominations:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe president\u2019s budget proposal reflects the administration\u2019s priorities across the federal government for fiscal year (FY) 2020. ESA submits requests to Congress for science funding.<\/p>\n
\nThe Climate Science Working Group held its 9th annual Climate Science Day March 12 & 13.<\/p>\n
\nScientific integrity legislation introduced; House Natural Resources Committee holds right whale conservation hearing.<\/p>\n
\nTrump formally nominates David Bernhardt to lead the Interior Department; Interior plans to remove gray wolf protections.<\/p>\n
\nNevada joins the U.S. Climate Alliance.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>U.N. releases sixth Global Environmental Outlook report.<\/p>\n
\nFormer national security officials protest Trump\u2019s plan to question climate science.<\/p>\n
\nUpcoming meetings and other opportunities for public involvement.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>View an up-to-date list of ESA\u2019s media coverage.<\/p>\nPresident\u2019s Budget Releases; Proposes Deep Cuts to Science and Environmental Programs<\/h2>\n
\nThe White House Office of Management and Budget released the first details about the\u00a0President\u2019s budget for fiscal year (FY) 2020<\/a>\u00a0March 11, which proposes reducing FY 2020 non-defense discretionary (NDD) funding by $54 billion (9 percent) below the FY 2019 level. OMB will release more details later, and agencies are posting budget request information on their websites as well. As in past years, the president\u2019s budget and the budget priorities of Congress are in conflict.<\/p>\nESA Goes to the Hill for Climate Science Day<\/h2>\n
\nThe Earth Science\u00a0Directorate\u00a0receives<\/a>\u00a0$1.730 billion, an 8 percent cut. As in past years, the budget proposes eliminating the Office of STEM Engagement and the PACE and CLARREO Pathfinder earth science missions.<\/p>\nCongress<\/h2>\n
\nHouse Science Committee:<\/strong>\u00a0National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine President Marsha McNutt warned that U.S. leadership in science and technology is in a \u201cprecarious position\u201d during a House Science Committee hearing, citing a drop in the number of international students enrolled in STEM graduate programs in the U.S. McNutt urged lawmakers to provide stable funding for scientific research.<\/p>\n\n
Executive Branch<\/h2>\n
\nWhite House:<\/strong>\u00a0President Trump signed\u00a0S. 47<\/a>, the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation Management and Recreation Act. The omnibus package\u00a0includes\u00a0a reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation funds as well as over 100 public lands, recreation,\u00a0and\u00a0conservation bills.<\/p>\nStates<\/h2>\n
\nCalifornia:\u00a0<\/strong>Emails\u00a0obtained<\/a>\u00a0by KQED show that the Trump administration is pressuring USFWS and NOAA biologists to speed up their analysis of a plan to send water from northern California to farms in California\u2019s Central Valley, despite messages from federal officials that the agencies do not have sufficient resources to complete the analysis. USFWS and NOAA must review this plan and issue a biological opinion because it will affect federal endangered Chinook salmon and threatened steelhead and green sturgeon. Unlike past plans, the draft biological opinion will not be available for public comment.<\/p>\nInternational<\/h2>\n
\nUN<\/strong>: The United Nation\u2019s Environment Program (UNEP) released its\u00a0sixth Global Environmental Outlook<\/a>. The report finds that the world is not on track to meet the UN sustainable development goals and if the world does not \u201cdrastically scale up environmental protections,\u201d Asia, the Middle East\u00a0and\u00a0Africa could see millions of premature deaths by 2050.<\/p>\nScientific Community<\/h2>\n
Federal Register Opportunities<\/h2>\n
\nPublic Meetings, many of which are live-streamed:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
\n(April 8)<\/li>\n
\n(April 2-3, registration due March 26)<\/li>\n
\n(April 4)<\/li>\n
\n(April 1-4)<\/li>\n\n