February 10, 2020

Rep. Torres: Trump Budget is a Self-Inflicted Wound

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) released the following statement today in response to President Donald Trump's FY 2021 Budget Request, which slashes deeply at domestic programs to help working and low-income Americans, in some cases, eliminating them outright.

"This budget makes President Trump's priorities crystal clear for the American people – it invests $2 billion in his pointless border wall, and cuts to the bone in areas like education, medical research, infrastructure, and climate science," Rep. Torres said. "This is a self-inflicted wound, and it's one our working class and low-income communities simply can't afford. For someone so concerned about greatness, it's hard to fathom why this President would work so hard to cripple his own government and harm his own people."

The cuts in President Trump's budget include:

  • Lifesaving Medical Research: Cuts lifesaving medical research programs at the National Institutes of Health by $3.3 billion, and reduces funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by $678 million.
  • Reduces Funding for Education: Imposes an 8.5 percent cut on Department of Education resources, a total cut of $6.2 billion, including the elimination of funding for after school programs.
  • Divestments in Infrastructure: Reduces funding for the Army Corps of Engineers, which fixes our nation's crumbling water infrastructure, by $1.7 billion.
  • Hurts U.S. Manufacturers: Zeroes out funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, hurting the ability of small- and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers to grow and create jobs.
  • Hinders Economic Growth: Eliminates funding for Economic Development Administration grants, harming economic growth, innovation, and U.S. competitiveness.
  • Slashes Climate Research: Eliminates NOAA's Climate Competitive Research program, reducing support for high-priority climate science and adaptation efforts.
  • Threatens Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness: Cuts FEMA federal assistance, primarily state and local grants critical for terrorism and disaster preparedness, by $746.9 million.
  • Cuts Community Development: Eliminates the Community Development Block Grant, making it harder for communities to address needs like safe housing, economic opportunities, and public facility improvements.
  • Reduces Access to Affordable Housing: Eliminates the HOME program, making it harder for low-income Americans to access affordable housing opportunities.
  • Reduces Rural Broadband: Reduces the Department of Agriculture's rural broadband programs by $305 million, making it harder for rural communities to connect to the 21st century economy.
  • Eliminates Transformational Energy Investments: Zeroes out the Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy and slashes the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy program by $2.1 billion, undermining clean energy technology.
  • Cuts Funding for Small Businesses: Slashes funding for Small Business Administration Entrepreneurial Development Grants, by $93 million, making it harder for small businesses to grow and compete.

This information is available online through the House Appropriations Committee here.

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