Yesterday President Trump released his blueprint for the next federal budget. The proposal would cut billions of dollars from domestic programs —including key programs that support economic growth in American communities.
Among its provisions Trump’s proposal would completely eliminate HUD’s Community Development Block Grants, USDOT’s TIGER program, and the National Endowment for the Arts. It would also make major cuts to the EPA and the Brownfields program; HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Choice Neighborhoods and the Self-help Homeownership Opportunity Program; as well as development programs at USDA.
This is a broadside against the things that make communities work. Trump’s budget jeopardizes people’s homes, their abilities to get to work, and local economies across the country. Without these federal programs communities will see rising demands on their services and fewer opportunities to grow their economies—and we are here to fight it.
Tell Congress to reject this disinvestment in communities. Send a message to your representatives right now:
Communities cannot be built piecemeal, and this issue can’t be solved with small changes to line items. Americans shouldn’t have to choose between good transportation and attainable housing, or between support for small businesses and support for low-income families. These programs need to work together in order to succeed.
Smart Growth America works in dozens of communities, large and small, each year and we see firsthand that local communities are doing tremendous work to revitalize downtowns, build transportation infrastructure, support new business and employment opportunities, and fight blight and homelessness. We also see that federal money is almost always part of these efforts.
America’s communities need smart investments that lead to greater security and opportunity. The Trump Administration promised these very things.
Take a moment to send a message to your members of Congress and ask them to reject Trump’s cuts to community development programs.