Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke testified before the House Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee regarding the FY18 Department of the Interior proposed Budget. The Administration’s FY18 proposed Budget for Interior represents an overall cut of $600 million from the FY17 enacted levels.
Zinke defended the proposed Budget, calling it balanced, and explaining that it’s intended to eliminate duplicative programs. Both Democrats and Republicans expressed concerns about the proposed cuts. Republicans were unhappy with the proposed cuts to several programs, including the Abandoned Mine Land grant program and earthquake monitoring, while Democrats opposed the call for more drilling and the lack of acknowledgment of climate science.