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Updated May 6, 2022
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): FY2022 Appropriations
and Background
Background
Figure 1. USGS Annual Appropriations, FY2017 to
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)—a scientific agency
FY2022
housed with the Department of the Interior (DOI)—aims to
(nominal $, in millions)
provide unbiased scientific information to describe and
understand 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 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. In contrast to other DOI bureaus, USGS
has no regulatory authority and does not manage any major
federal lands.
Congress created the USGS in 1879 in 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
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS).
products of the national domain.
Since 1879, Congress has expanded the USGS’s statutory
Table 1. USGS Funding: FY2021 and FY2022 Annual
authorities to include activities related to ecosystems and
Appropriations 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
FY2021
FY2022
FY2022
Science Support (administrative activities and information)
Budget Line
Enacted
Requested
Enacted
and Facilities. Congress typically appropriates funds for the
Ecosystems
259.1
358.2
277.9
agency through the annual Interior, Environment, and
Related Agencies appropriations acts.
Energy and
90.0
140.0
95.2
Mineral Resources
FY2022 Annual Appropriations
In P.L. 117-103, Congress appropriated $1.394 billion to
Natural Hazards
175.5
207.7
186.0
the USGS for FY2022 under Division G, the Department of
Water Resources
263.1
288.4
285.9
the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2022. FY2022 appropriations were
Core Science
252.7
341.9
263.8
$248 million below the FY2022 President’s budget request
Systems
of $1.642 billion and $79 million above the FY2021
Science Support
95.7
121.4
99.7
enacted level of $1.316 billion (a 6% increase; Figure 1).
Facilities
179.4
184.8
184.8
In FY2021 appropriations, Congress reduced USGS
Total
1,315.5
1,642.4
1,394.4
mission areas from six to five by eliminating the Land
Resources mission area and transferring its programs and
Sources: FY2022 U.S. Geological Survey Budget Justification, P.L.
funding to other mission areas, among other restructuring.
116-260, and P.L. 117-103.
FY2022 enacted appropriations reflected the FY2021
Notes: P.L. 117-103 also included a $1 million Congressionally
USGS restructuring. For FY2022, Congress increased
Directed Spending (CDS) item labeled as “Special Initiatives.” Table
funding for all mission areas compared to FY2021, but
figures may not add to totals shown due to rounding and the FY2022
provided less funding than the President requested (see
CDS item.
Table 1). Congress also included a $1 million
Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) item for the
The following sections summarize USGS mission areas and
USGS under a “Special Initiatives” line item.
selected programs in FY2022 annual appropriations.
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Ecosystems Mission Area
Core Science Systems Mission Area
The Ecosystems mission area conducts biological and
The Core Science Systems mission area generally focuses
ecological science to inform natural resource management
on the USGS’s mapping activities and supports science
decisions. Following FY2021 restructuring, Ecosystems
across the agency. The mission also includes the National
now houses five programs, including the Environmental
Land Imaging Program, which operates Landsat satellites.
Health Program previously administered under the Energy
Congress increased FY2022 appropriations for the mission
and Mineral mission area. Congress increased FY2022
area by $11.1 million compared to the FY2021 level of
appropriations for Ecosystems by $18.8 million compared
$252.7 million. Congress increased funding for the National
to FY2021. Of this amount, Congress increased funding for
Geospatial Program by $8.1 million compared to the
the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science
FY2021 enacted level of $79.5 million. Of this increase,
Centers by $10.6 million above the FY2021 enacted level
$4.3 million was for the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) to
of $41.3 million (the FY2022 budget request was for an
fund high-resolution topographic elevation data on tribal
increase of $43.1 million). These university-based centers
and federal lands in western states. Congress did not fund
conduct research with the aim of helping resource managers
the request of $60.0 million for activities related to the
understand the impacts of climate change and develop
proposed Department of Energy’s Advanced Research
climate adaptation strategies.
Projects Agency for Climate, which would have funded
efforts to research potentially high-reward climate
Energy and Mineral Resources Mission Area
adaptation and resilience efforts.
The Energy and Mineral Resources mission area includes
scientific research and assessments related to energy and
Science Support
minerals. Congress increased FY2022 appropriations for
The Science Support budget line includes funding to
Energy and Minerals by $5.2 million compared to FY2021.
provide business services and information technology
Under the Mineral Resources Program, Congress
management to operate USGS science programs. Congress
maintained Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (MRI)
increased FY2022 appropriations for Science Support by
funding at $10.6 million (to be used along with funding
$5.4 million compared to FY2021 enacted level of $95.7
provided by P.L. 117-58, see “FY2022 Supplemental
million, of which $0.8 million was a requested increase for
Appropriations”) and $3.8 million for mine waste research
diversity initiatives and $0.2 million was for fleet-related
and to characterize mine waste as a potential source for
infrastructure (the FY2022 budget request contained a $7.2
critical minerals (the FY2022 budget request was for $16.3
million increase to initiate the transition of USGS’s sedan
million). Under the Energy Resources Program, Congress
fleet to zero-emission vehicles). The FY2022 budget
provided $2.0 million for geologic carbon sequestration
request also contained an increase of $8.0 million for
research, which allows for the capture and storage of carbon in
Information Services to increase cloud and high-
geologic formations (the FY2022 budget request was for
performance computing; Congress provided an additional
$6.0 million).
$0.3 million in funding.
Natural Hazards Mission Area
Facilities
The Natural Hazards mission area provides scientific
The Facilities budget line includes funding for rent, facility
information to reduce losses from natural hazards. Congress
operations and maintenance, and deferred maintenance and
increased FY2022 appropriations for Natural Hazards by
repair activities. Congress provided the amount requested in
$10.5 million compared to FY2021, including a $4.6
the FY2022 budget request, an increase of $5.4 million.
million increase for earthquake hazards and a $3.0 million
increase for volcano hazards. Congress provided $28.6
FY2022 Supplemental Appropriations
million for continued development and expansion of the
In 2021, Congress provided the USGS with $537.0 million
ShakeAlert West Coast Earthquake Early Warning system
in supplemental appropriations in P.L. 117-43 and P.L. 117-
and $2.2 million to begin implementation of the National
58. Of these supplemental funds, Congress made $266.0
Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System. Congress
million available for FY2022, with the remainder available
provided $15.7 million less than the FY2022 request for
from FY2023 through FY2026. In P.L. 117-43, Congress
Coastal/Marine hazards and resources, but $1.4 million
provided $26.3 million for FY2022 to cover expenses
above the FY2021 enacted level of $40.5 million.
related to the effects of wildfires, hurricanes and other
natural disasters in 2019, 2020, and 2021. As of early May
Water Resources Mission Area
2022, the USGS has not published how the agency plans to
The Water Resources mission area monitors water
use those funds. In P.L. 117-58, Congress provided $239.7
resources and conducts research to improve water
million for FY2022, including $167.0 million for an energy
management. Congress increased FY2022 appropriations
and minerals research facility in Colorado; $64.0 million
for Water Resources by $22.8 million compared to FY2021,
for the USGS Earth MRI; and $8.7 million for the National
including $10.0 million for the Groundwater and
Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program.
Streamflow Information Program and $6.5 million for the
The USGS has provided information on how the agency
Water Availability and Use Science Program. Of the
plans to spend this funding, which is to support scientific
funding provided for these programs, $4.0 million was
information and data for infrastructure investments,
allocated for the USGS to pursue cooperative agreements to
particularly those using mineral resources.
foster a pipeline for hydrological sciences workforce.
Anna E. Normand, Analyst in Natural Resources Policy
IF11850
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): FY2022 Appropriations and Background
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