Trump FY2018 'Skinny' Budget Proposal: An Overview of the Sustainable Energy, Buildings, Transportation and Climate Implications

This policy brief by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) analyzes the Trump Administration's FY2018 'skinny budget' proposal. It details significant proposed funding cuts across multiple federal agencies, specifically targeting climate change programs, sustainable energy research, rural development, and public transportation infrastructure, while prioritizing national security and space exploration.

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) faced the largest percentage budget cut of any major agency, with a proposed 31 percent decrease totaling $2.6 billion. The budget specifically targets the elimination of all climate-related programs, including the Clean Power Plan and international climate change programs, as well as the Energy Star program.
• The Department of Energy (DOE) proposal includes a $1.7 billion reduction (5.6 percent), primarily targeting advanced technology research and financing. Programs slated for elimination include the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), the Title 17 Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program, and the State Energy Program.
• The budget proposes deep cuts to transportation infrastructure, including the total elimination of all 15 of Amtrak's long-distance train routes serving 390 communities across 40 states and the Essential Air Service Program, which supports 169 rural communities across 35 states and Puerto Rico.
• International climate and development assistance are heavily reduced through cuts to the Department of State and USAID ($10.1 billion decrease) and the Treasury Department's international programs ($803 million decrease). This includes the elimination of the Global Climate Change Initiative and the cessation of support for the Green Climate Fund.
• The budget proposes eliminating several programs focused on low-income and rural assistance, such as the Low-Income House Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the Weatherization Assistance Program, and the Community Development Block Grant Program.
• NASA's budget is reduced by $100 million, with a strategic shift in funding away from Earth science and climate observation toward space exploration. Four specific Earth science missions—PACE, OCO-3, DSCOVR, and CLARREO Pathfinder—are proposed for elimination.

APA

Werner, C., La Shier, B., Vaughan, E., Stolark, J., Haven, P., & Williams, S. (2017). Trump FY2018 'Skinny' Budget Proposal: An Overview of the Sustainable Energy, Buildings, Transportation and Climate Implications. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/files/IssueBrief_Skinny_Budget_041917.pdf

Chicago

Werner, Carol, Brian La Shier, Ellen Vaughan, Jessie Stolark, Paul Haven, and Susan Williams. Trump FY2018 'Skinny' Budget Proposal: An Overview of the Sustainable Energy, Buildings, Transportation and Climate Implications. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2017. https://www.eesi.org/files/IssueBrief_Skinny_Budget_041917.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Werner |first1=Carol |last2=La Shier |first2=Brian |last3=Vaughan |first3=Ellen |last4=Stolark |first4=Jessie |last5=Haven |first5=Paul |last6=Williams |first6=Susan |title=Trump FY2018 'Skinny' Budget Proposal: An Overview of the Sustainable Energy, Buildings, Transportation and Climate Implications |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=April 2017 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/IssueBrief_Skinny_Budget_041917.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{werner2017trump, author = {Werner, Carol and La Shier, Brian and Vaughan, Ellen and Stolark, Jessie and Haven, Paul and Williams, Susan}, title = {{Trump FY2018 'Skinny' Budget Proposal: An Overview of the Sustainable Energy, Buildings, Transportation and Climate Implications}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2017}, month = apr, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/IssueBrief_Skinny_Budget_041917.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }