Increases Proposed for U.S. Energy Department, But EPA Funding Would Be Cut

Abstract

The Bush administration's proposed fiscal year (FY) 2009 budget request would cut the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) funding to US$7.14 billion, a decrease of $330 million, or 4.4%, from the 2008 funding level. However, the administration's proposed budget request for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) would boost that agency's funding to $25 billion, an increase of $1.07 billion over 2008.The EPA budget request would allow the agency to “continue to deliver environmental results today, as well as keep EPA on course to deliver a cleaner, healthier tomorrow,” according to EPA administrator Stephen Johnson. “This budget represents government at its best: It helps EPA meet our environmental goals while being responsible stewards of taxpayers' dollars.”