The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): Background and FY2024 Appropriations

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): Background and FY2024 Appropriations

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Updated March 27, 2024
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): Background and FY2024
Appropriations
Background
Figure 1. USGS Annual Appropriations,
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in the Department of
FY2019-FY2024
the Interior (DOI), provides scientific information to
(in millions)
support the management of water, energy, mineral,
ecosystem, and land resources and to mitigate risks from
natural hazards. The USGS also collects long-term data to
understand and report on the Earth’s geologic and
ecosystem processes, using satellite imagery, mapping, and
ground-based instruments. The USGS has no regulatory
authority and does not manage 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
products of the national domain.
Since 1879, Congress has expanded the USGS’s statutory

authority to “such examinations outside the national domain
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on enacted
where determined by the Secretary [of the Interior] to be in
appropriations laws.
the national interest.” This expansion has included activities
Notes: The yel ow line shows FY2019-FY2023 amounts as adjusted
related to water resources, ecosystems, and natural hazards
for inflation to FY2023 dol ars, using FY2025 Budget of the U.S.
that span the globe. The USGS conducts scientific activities
Government, Historical Tables, Table 10.1.
under interdisciplinary mission areas, and each mission area
has its own budget line (see Table 1 for mission areas). The
Table 1. USGS Funding: FY2023 and FY2024 Annual
USGS also has budget lines for Science Support
Appropriations and FY2024 Budget Request
(administrative activities and information) and Facilities.
(nominal $, in millions)
Congress typically appropriates funds for the USGS
through annual Interior, Environment, and Related
Mission Area or
FY2023
FY2024
FY2024
Agencies appropriations acts. For FY2024, issues for
Budget Line
Enacted
Requested
Enacted
Congress included determining the amount, terms, and
conditions of funding for USGS activities and whether to
Ecosystems
307.2
395.0
299.4
enact related Biden Administration proposals.
Energy and
104.2
150.8
101.1
USGS FY2024 Annual Appropriations
Mineral Resources
P.L. 118-42 appropriated $1.455 billion to the USGS for
Natural Hazards
200.3
226.2
198.6
FY2024 under Division E, the Department of the Interior,
Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,
Water Resources
304.4
313.4
288.8
2024. FY2024 annual appropriations were $330.1 million
below the FY2024 President’s budget request of $1.786
Core Science
284.6
368.6
273.2
billion and $41.7 million below the FY2023 enacted level
Systems
of $1.497 billion (a 3% decrease; Figure 1). For FY2024,
Science Support
106.3
134.2
105.0
P.L. 118-42 appropriated less funding for all mission areas
and budget lines compared with FY2023 enacted levels and
Facilities
188.1
197.5
184.1
the FY2024 President’s budget request (Table 1). However,
Total
1,497.2
1,785.5
1,455.4
not all activities within mission areas or budget lines were
decreased, as per the examples provided in sections below.
Sources: FY2024 U.S. Geological Survey budget justification and
As part of the FY2024 appropriations, Congress included
explanatory statements accompanying P.L. 117-328 and P.L. 118-42.
four congressionally directed spending items, also known as
Note: Table figures do not add to totals shown due to rounding and
earmarks, for the USGS, totaling $5.2 million, under
congressional y directed spending items in FY2023 ($2.1 mil ion) and
“Special Initiatives.”
FY2024 ($5.2 mil ion).
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The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): Background and FY2024 Appropriations
The following sections summarize FY2024 annual
other programs in the mission area received less
appropriations for USGS mission areas and budget lines.
appropriations compared with FY2023, the explanatory
statement recommended appropriations for various
Ecosystems Mission Area
activities under these programs at the same level as
The Ecosystems mission area conducts biological and
FY2023, including federal priority streamgages at $25.7
ecological science to inform natural resource management
million and the Next Generation Water Observing System
decisions through five programs and cooperative research
at $29.5 million. The explanatory statement also
units. P.L. 118-42 decreased FY2024 annual appropriations
encouraged the USGS to build workforce capacity and
for the mission area by $7.8 million compared with FY2023
expertise for the water resources sector.
appropriations; the FY2024 President’s budget had
requested a 29% increase. All five programs received less
Core Science Systems Mission Area
FY2024 appropriations compared with FY2023, while the
The Core Science Systems mission area generally focuses
Cooperative Research Units received the same amount
on the USGS’s mapping activities and supports science
($28.3 million). The explanatory statement recommended
across the agency. The mission area includes the National
appropriations for certain activities under the programs at
Land Imaging Program, which operates Landsat satellites,
the same levels as FY2023. For example, the National and
among other activities. P.L. 118-42 decreased FY2024
Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers, which are
annual appropriations for the mission area by $11.4 million
university-based research centers that help resource
compared with FY2023; the FY2024 President’s budget
managers understand and adapt to climate change, received
requested a 30% increase. All programs under the mission
the same appropriations as FY2023 ($63.1 million).
area received decreased appropriations compared with
FY2023; however, some activities under these programs,
Energy and Mineral Resources Mission Area
such as the 3D Elevation Program, received the same
The Energy and Mineral Resources mission area includes
appropriations as FY2023. The explanatory statement did
scientific research and assessments related to energy and
not specify what, if any, appropriations were provided for
minerals. P.L. 118-42 decreased FY2024 annual
certain activities under the mission area as requested by the
appropriations for the mission area by $3.1 million
Administration. For instance, the FY2024 President’s
compared with FY2023; the FY2024 President’s budget
budget requested an increase of $30.0 million for a high-
requested a 45% increase. While both the Energy Resources
performance computing initiative to advance USGS science
Program and the Mineral Resources Program received
data delivery and an increase of $34.6 million to create a
decreased appropriations compared with FY2023, the
federal climate data portal and an atlas to inform decisions
explanatory statement recommended the same level of
for the Administration’s America the Beautiful Initiative.
appropriations for certain activities, such as the Earth
Science Support and Facilities Budget Lines
Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) and critical
mineral mapping in Alaska. The explanatory statement also
The Science Support budget line includes funding to
encouraged the USGS to develop geologic mapping to
provide business services and information technology
study lithium resources and recovery.
management to operate USGS science programs. Congress
decreased FY2024 annual appropriations for the budget line
Natural Hazards Mission Area
area by $1.3 million compared with FY2023; the FY2024
President’s budget requested a
The Natural Hazards mission area provides scientific
26% increase. Both
information to reduce losses from natural hazards. P.L. 118-
Administration and Management and Information Services
42 decreased FY2024 annual appropriations for the mission
received decreased appropriations compared with FY2023.
area by $1.6 million compared with FY2023; the FY2024
The Facilities budget line includes funding for rent, facility
President’s budget requested a 13% increase over the
operations and maintenance, and deferred maintenance and
FY2023 enacted level, mostly for the Coastal and Marine
repair. P.L. 118-42 decreased FY2024 annual
Hazards and Resources Program. Three programs received
appropriations for the budget line area by $4.0 million
compared with FY2023; the FY2024 President’s budget
the same appropriations as FY2023: the Earthquake
Hazards Program ($92.7 million), the Volcano Hazards
requested a 5% increase. Under the budget line, Deferred
Program ($37.5 million), and the Landslide Hazards
Maintenance and Capital Improvement received the same
Program ($14.4 million). The remaining three programs
funding as FY2023 at $74.8 million.
received decreased appropriations.
Supplemental Appropriations
Water Resources Mission Area
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA; P.L. 117-
58) provided the USGS supplemental appropriations of
The Water Resources mission area monitors water
$510.7 million, $69.0 million of which are first made
resources and researches water processes. P.L. 118-42
available in FY2024. This total includes $64.0 million for
decreased FY2024 annual appropriations for the mission
Earth MRI and $5.0 million for the National Geological and
area by $15.7 million compared with FY2023; the FY2024
President’s budget requested a 3%
Geophysical Data Preservation Program. The IIJA funding
increase over FY2023
for the USGS is to support scientific studies that address
appropriations. The Water Resources Research Act
critical mineral information and geological data
Program, a federal-state partnership that conducts regional
preservation. The USGS has provided information on how
water research, received the same appropriations as FY2023
it plans to spend its IIJA funding.
at $15.5 million. Cooperative matching funds for cost-
shared activities across the mission area also received the
Anna E. Normand, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
same appropriations as FY2023 at $66.5 million. While all
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The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): Background and FY2024 Appropriations

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