WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush's fiscal 2006 budget proposal of $2.57 trillion would eliminate or drastically cut funding for 154 programs.
The cuts, producing total savings of $15.3 billion, range from $4 million for an agriculture biotechnology program to $18 million for foreign-language assistance for small elementary and secondary schools and $489 million for congressionally earmarked Environmental Protection Agency projects, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.
The president's budget also proposes major changes in 16 programs, resulting in an additional $4.7 billion in gross savings.
The 2006 budget does not include a supplemental request for military costs related to Iraq and Afghanistan.
The administration says the budget was guided by three questions -- Does it meet the nation's priorities? Is it an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars? And does it produce the intended results?
