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Updated January 2, 2020
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): FY2020 Appropriations
Process and Background
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) aims to provide
unbiased scientific information to describe and understand
the geological processes of the Earth; minimize loss of life
and property from natural disasters; manage water,
biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and
protect the nation's quality of life. The USGS is a scientific
agency that is housed within the Department of the Interior
(DOI). In contrast to other DOI bureaus, it has no
regulatory authority and does not manage any major federal
land areas. The USGS also collects and stores scientific
information in long-term continuous data sets. These data
sets range from satellite imagery of land and ecosystem
features to streamflow and groundwater data.
Congress created the USGS in 1879 in a portion of a law
that is known as the USGS Organic Act (43 U.S.C. §3 1).
The USGS Organic Act defined the initial scope of the
USGS:
[The Director of the USGS] shall have the direction
of the United States Geological Survey, and the
classification of the public lands and examination of the
geological structure, mineral resources, and products
of the national domain.
Congress has expanded the USGS's scope in legislation
since 1879 to include activities beyond studying mineral
deposits and mapping. Presently, the USGS conducts
scientific activities under six interdisciplinary mission
areas: (1) Ecosystems, (2) Land Resources, (3) Energy,
Minerals, and Environmental Health (4) Natural Hazards,
(5) Water Resources, and (6) Core Science Systems. The
USGS also has budget lines for Science Support
(administrative activities and information) and Facilities.
Congress appropriates funds for the agency through the
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations
laws.
The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L.
116-94), included appropriations for the USGS under
Division D, the Department of the Interior, Environment,
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020. Congress
appropriated $1.271 billion to the USGS, which is $110
million above the FY2019-enacted level of $1.161 billion (a
9.5% increase; see Figure 1).
Figure I. USGS Annual Appropriations
(nominal $ in millions)
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4,
Fiscal Year
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS) using data from
public laws.
Appropriations for FY2020 are $287 million above the
President's FY2020 budget request of $984 million (see
Table 1). The Trump Administration's FY2020 budget
request proposed reductions for many mission areas
compared to FY2019 levels. The Administration said the
cuts were needed to address higher priorities. In P.L. 116-
94, Congress rejected the proposed cuts and increased
funding in all mission areas from FY2019 levels. Congress
also rejected the President's proposal to restructure the
USGS from six to five mission areas and reorganize
programs within a new structure. In the explanatory
statement accompanying P.L. 116-94, Congress stated that
more information was needed to evaluate whether a budget
restructure would achieve the Administration's stated goal
of improving efficiency.
Table I. USGS Funding: FY2019 Enacted, FY2020
Request, and FY2020 Enacted
(nominal $ in millions)
Mission Area or FY20 19 FY2020 FY2020
Budget Line Enacted Request Enacted
Ecosystems
Land Resources
Energy, Minerals, and
Environmental Health
Natural Hazards
156.9 141.0
158.3
111.7
170.5
0.0 166.3
166.3 145.0
113.5
170.9
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