“The President’s budget restores the federal government’s accountability to American families and American taxpayers while renewing the focus on our core missions. At Commerce, the budget will increase efficiency and strengthen important functions that keep us safe, defend against unfair trade practices, and promote growth and innovation. I look forward to working with the rest of the Administration to create a new foundation for American greatness.” – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross

Background:

• The U.S. Department of Commerce’s FY 2018 Budget requests $7.8 billion in discretionary funding, a $1.5 billion or 16 percent decrease from the FY 2017 Annualized Continuing Resolution level. The FY 2018 Budget Request prioritizes and protects investments in core Government functions such as preparing for the 2020 Decennial Census; providing the observational infrastructure and staff necessary to produce timely and accurate weather forecasts; supporting the Government’s role in managing marine resources and ocean and coastal navigation; and enforcing laws that promote fair and secure trade. The Budget also reduces or eliminates grant programs in support of the Administration’s efforts to devote resources towards rebuilding the military and making critical investments in the Nation’s security.
• The budget prioritizes enforcement and compliance of our existing trade laws, creating 29 new positions at the International Trade Administration (ITA). These new employees will work to self-initiate investigations of dumped and illegally subsidized foreign imports. This increase will ensure that no foreign corporation or government can take unfair advantage of our markets or our workers.
• The budget increases funding for the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to enhance export control investigations and enforcement capabilities. The volume of BIS processed export licenses has increased by 42 percent between FY 2013 and FY 2017, and this increase will make certain that sensitive U.S.-owned technology does not fall into the wrong hands.
• The budget maintains the core missions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) while developing a partnership with the commercial sector on data sharing to save countless taxpayer dollars. The budget includes more than $1 billion in funding for the National Weather Service to ensure quality forecasts for the American public, and maintains the launch commitment dates of the JPSS and GOES satellite program.
• The core mission of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is fully funded, as well as completing the renovation of the oldest building on NIST’s campus, to ensure that they are able to meet the 21st century demands in the fields of homeland security, nuclear medicine, radiation protection, and satellite imaging.
• The Census Bureau is moving forward with plans to streamline existing operations and enforce stringent efficiency in their data collection services. The budget eliminates unsuccessful telephone response efforts and calls for the use of government administrative records when completing the 2020 census, which has the potential to save $1.2 billion.