Fact Check: "During the next budget year, cuts will grow to $12 billion."
What We Know
The claim that cuts will grow to $12 billion is related to proposed budget reductions in various federal departments, particularly the Department of Education and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). According to a budget summary released by the Department of Education, the proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 includes a reduction of approximately $12 billion, which represents a 15.3% decrease from the previous year's appropriation. This reduction is part of a broader strategy that aims to cut $163 billion in non-defense discretionary funding across the federal government, as noted in reports from NPR and Education Week.
In the context of NIH, there are reports that the Trump administration has proposed cuts amounting to $18 billion, or 40%, from NIH's budget for the upcoming year, which would leave the agency with a total budget of $27 billion. This information was highlighted in a recent article by Reuters.
Analysis
The claim about the $12 billion cuts is substantiated by multiple sources that detail the proposed budget reductions. The Department of Education's budget summary explicitly states the proposed cut of $12 billion, making this a reliable source for the claim regarding education funding. However, it is essential to note that this figure pertains specifically to the Department of Education and does not encompass all federal budget cuts.
The NIH cuts, while significant, are reported to be higher than $12 billion, indicating that the total cuts across different departments could exceed this figure. The reliability of the sources varies; the budget summary from the Department of Education is an official government document, whereas the reports from news outlets like Reuters and NPR provide journalistic interpretations of the proposed budget cuts. These news sources are generally credible but may have varying degrees of bias based on their editorial perspectives.
Furthermore, the context of these cuts is crucial. The proposed budget reductions are part of a larger political strategy and may be subject to change as they go through the legislative process. Therefore, while the $12 billion figure is accurate for the Department of Education, it does not capture the complete picture of federal budget cuts.
Conclusion
Needs Research. The claim that cuts will grow to $12 billion is partially accurate, specifically in relation to the Department of Education. However, the broader implications of budget cuts across various federal agencies, including the NIH, suggest that the total reductions could be significantly higher. Further research is necessary to clarify the overall impact and distribution of these proposed cuts across different sectors of the federal budget.
