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June 11, 2021
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): FY2022 Budget Request
and Background
Background
Figure 1. USGS Annual Appropriations from FY2017
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) aims to provide
to FY2021 and FY2022 Budget Request
unbiased scientific information to describe and understand
(nominal $, in millions)
the geological processes of the Earth; minimize loss of life
and property from natural disasters; and support the
management of water, biological, energy, and mineral
resources. The USGS is a scientific agency housed within
the Department of the Interior (DOI). In contrast to other
DOI bureaus, it has no regulatory authority and does not
manage any major federal lands. The USGS also collects
scientific information for long-term data sets. These data
sets range from satellite imagery of land and ecosystem
features to streamflow and groundwater data.
Congress created the USGS in 1879 in a portion of a law
known as the USGS Organic Act (43 U.S.C. §31). The
USGS Organic Act defined the initial scope of the USGS:
[The Director of the USGS] shall have the direction
of the United States Geological Survey, and the
classification of the public lands and examination of
the geological structure, mineral resources, and
products of the national domain.
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS) with public law data.
Since 1879, Congress has expanded the USGS’s statutory
Table 1. USGS Funding: FY2020 and FY2021 Enacted
authorities to include activities related to ecosystems and
and FY2022 Budget Request
natural hazards. The USGS conducts scientific activities
(nominal $, in millions)
under interdisciplinary mission areas, and each mission area
has its own budget line. The USGS also has budget lines for
Mission Area or
FY2020
FY2021
FY2022
Science Support (administrative activities and information)
Budget Line
Enacted
Enacted
Requested
and Facilities. Congress appropriates funds for the agency
through the annual Interior, Environment, and Related
Ecosystems
170.5
259.1
358.2
Agencies appropriations acts.
Land Resources
166.3
0.0
0.0
FY2022 Budget Request
Energy and
113.5
90.0
140.0
The President’s budget request for FY2022 USGS
Mineral Resources
appropriations is $1.624 billion, which is $327 million more
than the FY2021 enacted level of $1.316 billion (a 23.4%
Natural Hazards
170.9
175.5
207.7
increase; Figure 1). The FY2022 request, if enacted, would
Water Resources
234.1
263.1
288.4
be the highest funding amount ever for the USGS.
Core Science
137.9
252.7
341.9
In FY2021 appropriations (Division G of P.L. 116-260),
Systems
Congress reduced USGS mission areas from six to five by
Science Support
96.8
95.7
121.4
eliminating the Land Resources mission area and
transferring its programs and funding to other mission areas
Facilities
180.9
179.4
184.8
(see Table 1). Congress also created new programs in the
Total
1,271.0
1,315.5
1,642.4
Ecosystems mission area and retained the organization of
some of the mission areas (e.g., Water Resources). The
Sources: FY2022 U.S. Geological Survey Budget Justification, P.L.
FY2022 request reflects this new USGS restructuring, and
116-94, and P.L. 116-260.
all mission areas would see increased funding under the
Notes: P.L. 116-260 eliminated Land Resources and transferred
budget request.
funding for those activities to Core Science Systems and Ecosystems.
Table figures may not add to totals shown due to rounding.
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The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): FY2022 Budget Request and Background
The following sections summarize USGS mission areas and
pilot technology in selected watersheds; Federal Priority
selected programs from the FY2022 budget request.
Streamgages, the backbone network of federal streamgages,
would receive $28.3 million. The budget request includes
Ecosystems Mission Area
$64.5 million of Cooperative Matching Funds for activities
The Ecosystems mission area conducts biological and
across Water Resources—the same as FY2021 funding.
ecological science to inform natural resource management
decisions. Following FY2021 restructuring, Ecosystems
Core Science Systems Mission Area
now houses five programs, including the Environmental
The Core Science Systems mission area generally focuses
Health Program previously administered under the Energy
on the USGS’s mapping mission and supporting science
and Mineral mission area. The FY2022 budget requests an
across the agency. In FY2021, Congress transferred the
increase of $99.1 million above the FY2021 enacted level
National Land Imaging Program, which includes operations
of $249.1 million for Ecosystems. Specifically, the budget
for the Landsat satellite constellation, to Core Science
request proposes an increase of $43.1 million above the
Systems. The FY2022 budget requests an increase of $89.2
FY2021 enacted level of $41.3 million for the National and
million above the FY2021 enacted level of $252.7 million
Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers. These
for the mission area. The request includes an increase of
university-based centers conduct research with the aim of
$60.0 million for collaborative research in climate
helping resource managers understand the impacts of
adaptation and resilience as part of the Department of
climate change and develop climate adaptation strategies.
Energy’s proposed Advanced Research Projects Agency for
Other requested funding increases across the mission area
Climate (ARPA-C) effort to invest in high-risk, and
include activities to support conservation science and
potentially high-reward, research on climate adaptation and
adaptive management of DOI land, quantify ecosystem
resilience and achieving a net zero emission economy by
services, reduce threats of invasive species and wildlife
2050. Other requested funding increases across the mission
diseases, and understand climate impacts on tribes.
area include activities to support conservation planning and
monitoring (i.e., through the U.S. Protected Areas
Energy and Mineral Resources Mission Area
Database), collect geospatial data on tribal lands, monitor
The Energy and Minerals mission area includes scientific
land cover and changes, and quantify biologic carbon
research and assessments related to energy and minerals.
sequestration in ecosystems.
The FY2022 budget requests an increase of $49.9 million
above the FY2021 enacted level of $90.0 million for the
Science Support
mission area. Under the Energy Resources Program, the
The Science Support budget line includes funding to
request includes an additional $23.6 million to support
provide business services and information technology
activities related to geologic carbon sequestration,
management to operate USGS science programs. The
greenhouse gas inventory, and tools for greenhouse gas
FY2022 budget requests an increase of $25.7 million above
reduction on federal lands. Under the Mineral Resources
the FY2021 enacted level of $95.7 million for the budget
Program, the request includes an additional $26.4 million to
line, which would fund initiatives that aim to strengthen
support supply chain research related to critical minerals,
scientific integrity and diversity, invest in cloud and high-
mine waste research and assessment in support of
performance computing advances, and initiate the transition
reclamation and potential mineral recovery, and
of USGS’s sedan fleet to zero-emission vehicles.
assessments of potential new sources of critical minerals.
Facilities
Natural Hazards Mission Area
The Facilities budget line includes funding for rent, facility
The Natural Hazards mission area provides scientific
operations and maintenance, and deferred maintenance and
information to reduce losses from natural hazards. The
repair activities. The FY2022 budget requests an increase of
FY2022 budget requests an increase of $32.3 million above
$5.4 million above the FY2021 enacted level of $179.4
the FY2021 enacted level of $175.5 million for the mission
million for Facilities.
area, including a $17.0 million increase for the Coastal and
Marine Hazards and Resources Program to improve coastal
Issues for Congress
resilience and risk reduction. Increased funding in other
The Biden Administration requested $327 million more for
Natural Hazard programs would support subduction zone
the USGS FY2022 budget than the FY2021 enacted level of
and seismicity science, landslide hazard data and science,
$1.316 billion. This contrasts with the Trump
national volcano center improvements, and expansion of
Administration, which requested overall cuts to the USGS
observatories measuring space weather.
budget. Congress countered these requests by repeatedly
funding the USGS at higher levels than requested in
Water Resources Mission Area
previous fiscal years. Congress may choose to continue this
The Water Resources mission area monitors water
trend by increasing funding for the USGS in FY2022, either
resources and conducts research to improve water
at the requested level or another amount, or it may provide
management. The FY2022 budget requests an increase of
level or reduced funding for the agency compared with
$25.3 million above the FY2021 enacted level of $263.1
FY2021.
million for the mission area, including increased funding
for the Water Availability and Use Science Program and for
Anna E. Normand, Analyst in Natural Resources Policy
the Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program
(GSIP). Under GSIP, the Next Generation Water Observing
IF11850
System, initiated in FY2018, would receive $30.9 million to
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The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): FY2022 Budget Request and Background
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11850 · VERSION 1 · NEW