FY 2009 Budget Request: U.S. Geological Survey

The Bush Administration has requested a 3.8 percent or $38.0 million reduction in the FY 2009 budget for the U.S. Geological Survey. Under this request, the total budget would fall from $1,006.5 million to $968.5 million.

A USGS release explains: “The FY 2009 budget focuses on the highest priorities for research while ensuring that the USGS builds the expertise it needs to continue answering the complex scientific questions that may arise. The budget includes $34.9 million in program increases and $15.0 million in fixed costs, offset by $87.8 million in reductions for lower priority efforts and unrequested increases.”

There are eight major components of the USGS budget:

GEOLOGICAL RESEARCH, INVESTIGATIONS AND REMOTE SENSING:

The Administration is seeking a 5.9 percent or $4.6 million reduction, from $77.7 million in FY 2008 to $73.1 million in FY 2009.

GEOLOGIC HAZARDS, RESOURCE, AND PROCESSES:

The Administration is seeking a 14.6 percent or $35.5 million reduction, from $243.5 million to $208.0 million.

WATER RESOURCES INVESTIGATION:

The Administration has requested a 7.9 percent or $17.5 million reduction, from $220.5 million to $203.0 million.

BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH:

The Administration has requested an increase of 0.3 percent or $0.458 million, from $179.9 million to $180.3 million.

ENTERPRISE INFORMATION:

The Administration has requested an increase of 1.6 percent or $1.8 million, from $110.4 million to $112.1 million.

GLOBAL CHANGE:

The Administration has requested an increase of 259.5 percent, or $19.2 million, from $7.4 million to $19.2 million. A Department of the Interior release explains: “The 2009 budget includes $31.4 million for the U.S. Geological Survey’s climate change program to focus on priority climate change needs to fill critical information gaps. The 2009 request includes funding for base programs and sustains $5 million in 2008 for a comprehensive pilot program in Alaska for a monitoring network and climate change adaptation assessments. These components will provide critical monitoring information needed for predictive modeling related to our changing climate and its effects on the landscape and natural resources. This science will inform Secretary Kempthorne’s Task Force on Climate Change, which will guide Interior’s comprehensive approach to studying and modeling the impacts of climate change.”

SCIENCE SUPPORT:

The Administration is requesting essentially level funding, from an FY 2008 budget of $67.2 million to $67.2 million in FY 2009.

FACILITIES:

The Administration is seeking a reduction of 1.8 percent or $1.9 million, from $100.0 million to $98.1 million.

Further information on the FY 2009 USGS budget request is available at:
http://www.doi.gov/budget/2009/09Hilites/BH047.pdf