The US President’s planned 2018 budget would push up government spending by 3.4 per cent – despite campaigning on the promise that he would do away with wasteful regulations, according to a George Washington University study.
Trump’s budget proposes spending $69.4 billion in 2018, compared to $65.9 billion in 2017 and $63.7 billion in 2016.
It’s double the increase Barack Obama gave federal regulatory departments and agencies in 2017.
So where’s the money going?
The report found that the President’s favourite causes – immigration and border protection – will be the big winners.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would see its spending increased by $4.1 billion or 13.7 per cent after a $1.7 billion (5.9 per cent) increase in 2017.
Sadly the generosity won’t extend to all agencies.
The US’s peak environmental body the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will see its expenditure and staff cut by around 25 per cent to $4.1 billion in 2018 – its lowest level since Ronald Reagan was president in 1987.
Considering Trump’s stance on climate change, perhaps that’s not such a surprise.
We’re still waiting for that Mexican wall though.
