Summary of President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Proposal

The America First: A Budget Blueprint to Make America Great Again proposes $1.1 trillion in total discretionary spending, including a $54 billion increase in defense spending above the current spending caps that is offset by deep cuts in non-defense discretionary programs deemed to be duplicative or ineffective.

These cuts include entirely eliminating funding to core programs of importance to the charitable community, such as the Corporation for National and Community Service and the National Endowment for the Arts. The proposal adheres to legislative language that permits discretionary spending outside of the budget caps to be authorized for specific purposes outlined in the 21^st Century Cures Act and includes $3 billion for building a border security wall.

While non-binding, the president’s budget is an indication of the administration’s broader priorities. Independent Sector released a statement on the budget on March 16.

In summary, the president’s budget proposal:

• Sets base non-defense spending at $462 billion; Sets base defense spending at $603 billion
• Reduces spending for the following departments and agencies:
  • Agriculture – 20.7% reduction
    • Includes $200 million cut to Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Supplemental Assistance
  • Commerce – 15.7% reduction
  • Education – 13.5% reduction
  • Energy – 5.6% overall reduction
  • Health and Human Services – 16.2% reduction
  • Housing and Urban Development – 13.2% reduction
  • Interior – 11.7% reduction
  • Justice – 3.8% reduction
  • Labor – 20.7% reduction
  • State – 28.7% reduction
  • Transportation – 12.7% reduction
  • Treasury – 4.4% reduction
    • Includes $239 million cut to the Internal Revenue Service
  • Increases spending for the following departments and agencies
    • Defense – 10% increase
    • Homeland Security – 6.8% increase
    • Veterans Affairs – 5.9% increase
  • Eliminates funding for the following programs and agencies (select list)
    • Corporation for National and Community Service
    • National Endowment for the Arts
    • National Endowment for the Humanities
    • Institute of Museum and Library Services
    • Corporation for Public Broadcasting
    • Legal Services Corporation
    • Senior Community Service Employment Program
    • Community Development Block Grants

Additional updates and analysis will be provided as more details are released.