Trump budget calls for green energy cuts, record military spending

The Trump administration on Friday unveiled its 2027 budget proposal, a wish list of changes — primarily cuts — it wants to see enacted by Congress in the upcoming fiscal year.

- BY HAYLEY SMITH

THE PRESIDENT'S spending plan continues his emphasis on fossil fuel energy.

(MICHAEL BLACKSHIRE Los Angeles Times)

Perhaps the biggest news related to the proposal from Trump's Office of Management and Budget is that it seeks a record $1.5-trillion defense budget. But buried in lower line items are other important changes, made to climate and environment programs, that would help further the administration's efforts to thwart the "green agenda." They include cuts to clean energy programs and significant reductions for federal science agencies and environmental justice efforts.

"President Trump is committed to eliminating funding for the globalist climate agenda while unleashing American energy production," the White House said of the plan.

Some Democrats and environmental groups have already vowed to oppose it.

"It's just an out-of-touch plea for more money for guns and bombs, and less for the things people need, like housing, healthcare, education, roads, scientific research, and environmental protection," read a statement from Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, the top Democrat on the budget committee.

Among the big ticket, climate related items in the proposed budget are the proposed cancellation of more than $15 billion in Department of Energy funds for programs geared toward "unreliable renewable energy, removing carbon dioxide from the air, and other costly technologies that burden ratepayers and consumers," the proposal says.