February 13, 2018

A Federal Relations Update

Yesterday morning, President Trump released his full fiscal year (FY) 2019 budget. Overall, the proposal includes $716 billion for defense spending and $540 billion for nondefense programs. The administration’s efforts for the coming fiscal year include a continued focus on regulatory reform and investment in infrastructure.

Today’s budget release comes on the heels of the two-year bipartisan spending agreement Congress just passed for FY 2018 and FY 2019, so Congress will pay even less attention to the president’s budget this year than most years. In addition, it is important to note that the president’s budget request simply kicks off the appropriations process—it is not law. The FY 2019 spending bills will be crafted by Congress, not the White House.

Again this year, agencies that fund scientific research and provide financial aid for UW–Madison students are slated for reductions or elimination. As Congress begins the appropriations process for FY 2019, the UW–Madison Office of Federal Relations will explain to Wisconsin’s congressional delegation the severe impact these cuts would have on our campus.

Beginning today, Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney will spend the next two days defending the administration’s budget before the Senate and House Budget Committees. He is sure to be peppered with questions from concerned lawmakers. In the coming days and weeks, additional agency heads will do the same, including newly confirmed Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, who will have to answer questions about the National Institutes of Health budget. Twelve congressional budget hearings have already been scheduled.

FY 2018 funding figures are not yet final. Congress is expected to pass a FY 2018 omnibus appropriations bill next month. We’ll provide an update when that occurs.

Full information is not yet available, and many agency-specific budget documents have yet to be released. Below are a few highlights of the FY 2019 budget proposal that may be of interest to the campus community.

In the coming days, please visit the UW–Madison Office of Federal Relations website. Under the Federal Budget and Appropriations tab you will find links to a more detailed summary. This site will be updated as more infromation becomes available.

As always, if you have any questions or if you would like additional infromation, please feel free to contact UW–Madison Director of Federal Relations Mike Lenn.

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