News Every Day | 18 April 2024, 20:57

FY 24 Federal Budget Passed: Biden Administration Releases Proposed FY 25 Budget

In March, President Biden signed into law two omnibus appropriations bills which will fund the federal government through the last seven months of fiscal year (FY) 2024.

Also in March, the Biden Administration released its proposed FY 25 budget for federal agencies. Those proposed funding levels are included here as well. Click here to access a chart showing how programs of interest to our community fared. It includes the budget for FY 23 and compares it with FY 24 and President Biden’s FY 25 budget request. Click here to see a second chart (also attached) that provides funding trends over the past three fiscal years to gain some historical perspective.

For FY 24 the numbers generally show flat funding or cuts when compared to FY 23. The numbers are even bleaker when comparing FY 24 with the Administration’s FY 25 proposed budget. Many agencies, such as the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the National Park Service’s History and Preservation programs and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) would have their budgets cut. One exception is the National Archives which would receive a $29.1 million, or ten percent, increase over its FY 24 level.

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) received $427.5 million for operating expenses (OE), a $39.2 million increase, or 10 percent, from the FY 22 level of $388 million. NARA received no increase from FY 23 to FY 24. However, as noted above, the Biden administration is proposing a $29.1 million increase for NARA’s operating expenses budget in FY 25.
The National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) received $10 million in base funding, down from $12 million in FY 23. However, the Commission received an additional $38.4 million in congressionally earmarked projects, bringing the total up to $48.4 million. This is by far the highest level of funding the NHPRC has received in its history.
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) received $207 million, level funding from FY 23. However, the Administration is proposing a $7 million cut in FY 25.
K-12 history and civics programs at the Department of Education: The Presidential and Congressional Academies for American History and Civics were level funded at $3 million. The American History and Civics grants program was also level funded at $20 million for a total of $23 million for both programs.
The Title VI/Fulbright-Hays International Education programs received no increases. Title VI (domestic programs) was level funded at $75.3 million. The Fulbright-Hays (overseas programs) was also level funded at $10.3 million resulting in a total of $85.6 million. For FY 25, the Biden administration is proposing a $4.1 million cut for the programs (-$2 million for Title VI and -$2.1 million for Fulbright-Hays).
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) The IMLS was level funded at $294.8 million. Library Programs were level funded at $211 million, and Museum Programs were reduced by $700,000 down to $55.3 million.
The National Park Services’ FY 24 budget includes $188.6 million for the Historic Preservation Fund, a decrease of $15.9 million below the FY 23 level. The Biden administration is proposing an additional reduction of $37.2 million in the fund for FY 25. The FY 24 budget includes $26.5 million for the Save America’s Treasures competitive grant program for the preservation of nationally significant sites, structures, and artifacts, $1 million less than last year. The bill includes level funding of $29.2 million for the Heritage Partnership Program. The Administration would cut $10 million from this program in FY 25. The American Battlefield Protection Program’s budget was level funded at $20 million. The bill provides $10 million for the Semiquincentennial Preservation Grants program to support the restoration of sites that honor the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding, including Revolutionary War monuments. The Administration would eliminate this program in FY 25.
The Library of Congress received $852 million, up from $828.5 million in FY 23. The Biden administration would increase the Library’s budget by $38 million in FY 25.
The Smithsonian Institution’s budget was reduced by $54 million, down to $1.090 billion. The Salaries and Expenses budget is level funded at $893 million and the Facilities Capital budget was reduced from $251 million to $197 million. The Administration is proposing $1.160 billion in funding for the Smithsonian in FY 25.
The US Semiquincentennial Commission’s budget would be level funded at $15 million.
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars received $15 million, level funded from last year.