Biden FY2022 Full Budget Request Includes Large Increase for EPA & Water Programs

President Joe Biden released his fiscal 2022 budget request last week, building on the skinny budget released in April. The request petitions Congress to increase the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) annual funding by 21 percent, an additional $2 billion to $11.2 billion. This is a sharp departure from Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, who targeted the Agency with budget cuts. According to a White House budget briefing, EPA’s “funding has been reduced by 27 percent since 2010, adjusted for inflation.”

Below are some of the funding requests for drinking water programs for FY22:

• Public Water Supply Supervision (PWSS) Grants: $122 million ($10 million increase above the FY21 enacted level);
• Drinking Water SRF: $1.358 billion ($232 million increase above the FY21 enacted level);
• Clean Water SRF: $1.871 billion ($232 million increase above the FY21 enacted level); 
• WIFIA – $80 million ($15 million increase above the FY21 enacted level);
• Safe Water for Small & Disadvantaged Communities Grant: $41 million ($15 million increase above the FY21 enacted level);
• Reducing Lead in Drinking Water Grant: $81.5 million ($60 million increase above the FY21 enacted level);
• Lead Testing in Schools Grant:  $36.5 million ($10 million increase above the FY21 enacted level);
• Drinking Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Grant: $9 million ($5 million increase above the FY21 enacted level);

The presidential budget request summarizes the Administration’s priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. This is a request to Congress, who can approve, modify, or reject the request. As with proposed EPA budgets in the past, this budget will likely see major alterations before being passed into law.  

Visit EPA’s FY 2022 EPA Budget in Brief for more information.