Yesterday, President Donald Trump released his Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget proposal titled America First: A Budget Blueprint to Make America Great Again. You can access a full copy of the proposal HERE.
The proposal increases spending in the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs by $54 billion, and offsets these increases by decreases in the budgets of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, among others.
Meals on Wheels Program
There were several media outlets reporting that cuts were being made that would specifically affect Meals on Wheels programs across the country – a program that has tremendous impact to seniors in our Region.
- The Linn, Benton, Lincoln Meals on Wheels is currently federally funded through the Older Americans Act, under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As of right now, the President’s Budget Outline includes no cuts to the Older Americans Act.
- A proposed HHS budget reduction of 16% may affect Meals on Wheels, as could changes to Older American Act funding through an Appropriations Process.
- Meals on Wheels programs can be funded through other programs such as the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), which supports wraparound services, including Meals on Wheels; and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), which is facing elimination by a $3 billion cut in the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) budget. Both the CSBG and the CDBG are facing cuts in the President’s budget proposal.
Next Steps
The President’s budget proposal is the first step in the Federal budget process. Both Houses of Congresses will propose budget priorities and ultimately the House of Representatives, which has authority over appropriations, will consider their and other priorities. Concurrently funding for FY2017 needs to be finalized. The President is expected to release a more detailed budget in late April or early May.
We will continue to keep you informed as the process moves forward and as we learn more.
If you have any questions, please contact Fred Abousleman at fabousle@ocwcog.org or 541-924-8465.