A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/1006184
WHITE H OUSE GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION PLAN On June 21, the Trump Administration issued a proposal that would reform and reorganize the federal government. Here is a link to the OMB proposal, which is broad in scope and proposes changes to almost every department in the federal government. For the U.S. Department of Transportation, it includes a proposal to remove air traffic control from the government. Specifically, the air traffic control system would become a nongovernmental entity and would no longer fall under FAA jurisdiction. Instead, it would become a nonprofit entity "similar to the Canadian system," according to the OMB Report. Background This proposal is the result of a March 2017 executive order that directed the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to come up with a comprehensive plan to reorganize federal departments and agencies. NATCA did not discuss or collaborate on this report with the Administration. NATCA Impact It is important to know that, while some of the ideas could be accomplished through executive actions, much of the proposal would require Congressional approval. The House Oversight & Government Reform Committee and the Senate Homeland Secur ity and Governmental Affairs Committee both have jurisdiction over government reform measures. NATCA Government Affairs staff is closely monitoring. FY 19 APPROPRIATIONS The government is currently operating under a $1.3 trillion omnibus appropriations bill which provides funding for the federal government for this rest of this fiscal year (FY) 2018. Appropriators have been working on FY 19 appropriations bills quickly in order to advance the spending bills in a timely manner. NATCA Government Affairs st aff is continuing to advocate for our funding and policy priorities each step of the way as the appropriations process continues. NATCA GA staff is also working with our allies on Capitol Hill to quickly defeat harmful amendments that are considered throug hout the appropriations process. The House and Senate Appropriations Committees have each approved their own versions of Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bills. The chart below shows current and proposed funding levels f or FAA programs. FAA BUDGET LINE FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2019 Enacted House THUD Senate THUD Operations $10.2 billion $10.4 billion $10.4 billion Facilities & Equipment $3.25 billion $3.25 billion $3.00 billion Research, Engineering & Development $188.9 billion $180 billion $191 billion Next Steps The House and Senate have both passed the first "minibus" of the FY 19 funding process. This bill, H.R.5895, included funding for Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. This bill passed both the House and Sena te in June. The next step for the bill is a House/Senate conference committee