How would President Trump’s budget proposal affect you?

7 min readJun 2, 2017

President Trump released a budget proposal a few weeks ago — his blueprint for how and where he believes the federal government should be investing its resources. But what the President’s budget proposal fails to outline is how his proposed cuts would affect you. See below for just a few areas where, if implemented, President Trump’s budget would change your day-to-day life.

Hurting Efforts to Combat Substance Misuse

As New Hampshire and states across the country grapple with a heroin, fentanyl, and opioid crisis, those on the front lines of combating this crisis need more resources from the federal government, not less. President Trump’s proposed budget would drastically harm our efforts to combat this devastating epidemic by cutting programs that are integral to stemming the tide of addiction and saving lives.

President Trump’s budget proposal combined with Trumpcare would cut Medicaid by as much as $1.4 trillion over 10 years. Medicaid has been integral to ensuring that thousands of Granite Staters struggling with addiction have access to the treatment and recovery services they need. Overall, 186,033 Granite Staters are covered through Medicaid.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: The Trump budget would cut $373 million from treatment, prevention, and recovery efforts.
Byrne Justice Assistance Grants have been critical to supporting law enforcement efforts, providing law enforcement officers the resources they need to prosecute drug dealers and reduce the supply of illicit drugs such as fentanyl and carfentanil. The Trump Administration’s proposed budget would cut funding for these grants by more than $70 million.

Cuts to Critical Public Safety and National Security Priorities

New Hampshire law enforcement and public safety agencies receive critical federal funding to help them prepare for everything from a terrorist attack to a natural disaster, but President Trump’s budget proposal eliminates millions of dollars that helps keep Granite Staters safe.

New Hampshire received $3.7 million in FY 2016 to protect against terrorist threats, natural disasters, and other emergencies through the State Homeland Security Grant Program. The Trump budget would cut $117 million dollars from this program.
In FY 2016, New Hampshire received roughly $3.5 million in FEMA’s Emergency Management Performance Grants to prepare for all forms of hazards, including natural and manmade disasters. This budget would slash $70 million from this program.
The budget seeks authorization for a new round of Base Realignment and Closure in 2021. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard was targeted in the 2005 round of BRAC.

Stifling Innovation and Economic Development

Instead of working to foster innovation and support job-creating businesses, the Trump budget cuts critical economic priorities that will stifle economic growth.

The Trump budget eliminates the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, which is utilized by New Hampshire manufacturers to expand and create new jobs by making them more competitive in the global market. Analysis has shown that for every dollar invested in this program, it results in $17.90 in new sales growth for manufactures.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded $43 million in FY 16 to support research at eight New Hampshire institutions including the University of New Hampshire and Dartmouth College. The Trump budget cuts NSF funding by 11 percent, jeopardizing ongoing research projects in New Hampshire.
The Trump budget would eliminate the Community Development Block Grant program, which has provided $126 million in funding to New Hampshire since 2003 to promote economic development and strengthen communities.
The Trump Budget eliminates the Economic Development Administration (EDA), which helps to fund economic development projects throughout New Hampshire. In 2016, the EDA awarded the town of Littleton a $1 million grant to help reconstruct the stormwater and sewer system, and roads and sidewalks along the Saranac, Ammonoosuc, and Mill Street Corridor along the Ammonoosuc River.
The President’s budget also proposes eliminating the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC). In 2016, New Hampshire received 13 awards totaling $1.8 million to help spur economic development in the North Country. The Littleton Revitalization Project, the repurposing of the Groveton Mill in Northumberland, and River Valley Community College were all 2016 NRBC grant recipients.

Undermining Efforts to Build a Stronger Workforce

President Trump’s reckless budget proposal would undermine critical education and job training programs that help expand economic opportunity and build the workforce businesses need to thrive and grow.

Trump’s budget eliminates federal funding for Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, which would make college more expensive for students. New Hampshire colleges received $4.7 million in funding through this grant in FY 2016.
The proposal eliminates federal funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers, hurting New Hampshire after-school programs. New Hampshire received $5,716,698 federal dollars in FY 2016 for these centers.
Trump’s budget would eliminate federal funding for Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants. New Hampshire provides no dedicated state funding for teacher professional development, meaning the elimination of these federal grants will zero out all dedicated funding for Granite State teachers’ professional development. New Hampshire received over $10 million for the 2016/17 school year.

Pulling the Rug out From Under our Seniors

Rather than provide seniors with the resources they need to continue to engage in our society, President Trump’s proposed budget includes significant cuts to programs that our older citizens depend upon to lead productive, independent lives.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides our seniors and low-income families with vital assistance to pay their energy bills during both cold winters and hot summer months. The Trump budget eliminates the LIHEAP program, which provided over $25 million to New Hampshire in FY 2016.
President Trump is further turning his back on our older citizens by zeroing out the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program. Over 100,000 Granite Stater receive services through the CSBG program, including 37,000 seniors. These supports range from assistance with housing and nutrition, to emergency services and health care.
President Trump’s budget proposes cutting Medicaid by as much as $1.4 trillion over 10 years. This cut, on top of the $830 billion included in the Trumpcare bill that passed the House of Representatives, jeopardizes the ability of older Granite Staters to stay engaged in our communities. Medicaid helps pay for two out of three individuals in nursing homes and helps provide home care and transportation to and from medical appointments for seniors.

Setting Back Efforts to Combat Climate Change and Promote Clean Energy

Combating climate change and ensuring access to clean air and water is essential to the health of our people, the vitality of our communities, and the strength of our economy. President Trump’s budget proposal dramatically hinders our efforts to combat climate change and build a cleaner, healthier environment for all of our people.

The President’s budget proposal slashes the EPA by $2.6 billion, a 31 percent cut from the current budget year. This includes cuts to both international and domestic climate change research — a clear indication that the Administration continues to deny scientific fact.
President Trump’s budget proposal includes eliminating the entire Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) program, which has supported important projects to expand our growing clean energy industry in New Hampshire and help reduce CO2 emissions. One New Hampshire business that has utilized this program is Brayton Energy in Hampton, which received $2,399,992 to help develop new residential combined heat and power systems.
There are 20 hazardous waste sites in New Hampshire on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Priority List for the Superfund program, which helps communities clean up toxic pollution. President Trump’s budget proposal would cut the Superfund program by more than 30%.
The budget proposal includes hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which has been integral to advancing New Hampshire’s growing clean and renewable energy industry. Normandeau Associates in Bedford partnered with this office to develop a tool to help make informed planning decisions and assessments of wind projects.

Failing to Invest in Transportation Infrastructure

Strong and modern transportation infrastructure is critical to the success of our people and businesses in New Hampshire. Rather than supporting efforts to build the transportation infrastructure system New Hampshire needs, President Trump proposed cuts to important programs that are helping to make that vision a reality.

President Trump has proposed to eliminate all funding for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants, which have provided funding for critical transportation infrastructure projects in the Granite State, including the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge and Memorial Bridge. Eliminating this program would mean that other New Hampshire infrastructure projects would no longer be eligible for such funding.
The Trump budget entirely eliminates the Essential Air Service program, jeopardizing operations at Lebanon Airport, which would hurt the greater Lebanon economy and affect thousands of local residents and travelers.

Undermining the Health and Well-Being of Our Citizens

Every Granite Stater and American deserves the opportunity to have quality, affordable health care to help them live healthy and productive lives. Rather than support the needs of hard-working Americans, President Trump’s budget would undermine critical health services for millions of Granite Staters and Americans, and make it harder for us to care for our most vulnerable citizens.

President Trump’s proposed budget eliminates all funding for Planned Parenthood, which provides critical primary and preventive health care services to thousands of New Hampshire women, including preventative care, birth control, and cancer screenings.
The proposed Trump Administration budget also proposes cutting Medicaid by as much as $1.4 trillion over 10 years, which helps school systems cover the cost of special education services and equipment for students who experience disabilities. New Hampshire school districts could lose out on over $29 million to help support these students and ensure that they receive a free and appropriate public education as guaranteed under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA).