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President Trump Releases Fiscal year 2021 Proposed Budget

On February 10, President Trump introduced his proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, $4.8 trillion budget - the last of his current Administration. While the president's budget is historically disregarded by the Congress, its introduction marks the first step in the annual appropriations process. Congress, especially the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, use the President's request as a starting point for holding hearings and formulating their own proposed funding recommendations. Ideally, Congress will send the President 12 appropriations bills, encompassing funding for all federal agencies, before FY 2021 begins on October 1st. 

Overall, the President's budget proposes cutting non-defense discretionary (NDD) funding by $42 billion (or 5 percent below the FY of 2019 NDD spending level). NDD is the federal funding category that includes funding for PAA's priority federal agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Census Bureau, and all Federal Statistical Agencies. The President's proposed cut to NDD spending was met with bipartisan opposition, particularly since the cuts would put NDD spending below previously agreed upon statutory spending caps signed into law last year.

Below is a table summarizing the president’s proposed funding for key agencies that directly and indirectly support the population sciences as well as the funding levels that PAA recommends these agencies receive in FY 2021. Details about the budget will be shared with PAA members as more analysis is conducted throughout the month.

On April 22, during Advocacy Counts (an event as part of the 2020 PAA meeting in Washington, DC at which pre-registered PAA members will meet with their congressional delegations) PAA will be urging Congress to increase funding for these federal agencies in FY 2021 and demonstrating how investing in these agencies advances science and improves the public’s health and well-being. Register now!

*Coalitions to which PAA belongs for these agencies have not yet issued a funding recommendation.