FAA BUDGET LINE
FY 2018 FY 2018
House Request Senat e Request
Operations
$10,185,482,000 $10,186,000,000
Facilities & Equipment
$2,855,000,000 $3,005,000,000
Research, Engineering & Development
$170,000,000 $179,000,000
Sequestration Cuts : Current spending plans would trigger a round of across - the - board
cuts known as sequestration. A 2011 law (P.L. 112 - 25) imposed limits on defense and
non - defense discretionary spending through fiscal 2021 in an effort to curb mounting
deficits. For FY 18, the defense cap is $549 billion and the non - defense cap is $515.7
billion. Senate appropriators are writing their spending bills based on this year ' s funding
levels, which are higher than the caps for next year. As a result, the Senate plan would
exceed the caps. The house faces a similar situation with its app ropriations bills. If these
plans are enacted without changes, sequestration would go back into effect.
NATCA Impact : Congress hasn't completed all 12 regular spending bills on time for any
fiscal year since the mid - 1990s, relying often on short - term fund ing patches that
continue funding levels from the previous year without major changes. The lack of a
stable and predictable funding stream leaves the FAA in financial limbo, and prevents
government agencies such as the FAA from starting new projects or adj usting priorities.
LEGISLATIVE WATCHLIST
In addition to executive actions from President Trump, Congress is already working to
advance anti - federal employee bills, including those that would attack the use of official
time and negatively impact federal e mployee pay and benefits. With Republicans in
control of the House, Senate, and White House, these types of prop osals are continuing
to rise. NATCA staff will continue to fiercely fight these proposals.
