California Democrats tried on Thursday to dissuade Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum from cuts to water infrastructure funding. Instead, they got a clear view of the Trump administration’s priorities.
The water security programs may be working, but budget cuts are more important, Burgum told lawmakers during a House hearing on President Donald Trump’s proposed budget for the Department of the Interior.
“When you’re trying to make the kind of reductions we are against the tremendous budget deficit we have, sometimes even programs that are solid programs end up on the list,” Burgum said. “So, it’s nothing in particular about this program. It’s just trying to find a way to make sure that we do our part overall to help reduce the size and the deficit of the federal budget.”
Congress is supposed to have the final say in federal funding, but the administration’s budget proposal, which would eliminate WaterSMART, is raising red flags for some House Democrats, especially given the approach DOGE has taken to federal funding.
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Burgum was responding to Rep. Luz Rivas, who represents the San Fernando Valley. Rivas said WaterSMART, which funds water management improvements, drought planning and more throughout the American West, was successful in mitigating water shortages in her district. It’s received billions in federal funding since 2010, with billions more matched by state and local partners.
“Water issues, especially in Southern California, are something we’re always struggling with, and this program has proven to be successful in terms of building that infrastructure,” Rivas said. “The entities there really rely on this federal funding to build that infrastructure. So, it’s just going to be zeroed out?”
Burgum praised those in Rivas’ district working on water recycling programs but said the department needs to look for more collaborations with the state and private sector.
Rep. Julia Brownley, following up on Rivas’ questions, asked Burgum to recognize that drought is a problem in the West. She told Burgum that federal funding for WaterSMART is already matched with nonfederal money, calling the program a “pretty good investment for the federal government.”
“It’s a very, very important program, and I hope you will look into it and get back to both Ms. Rivas and I in terms of what your intentions may be moving forward,” Brownley said.
It’s not just future funding for water programs concerning these California Democrats. Rep. Adam Gray, who represents “the largest agricultural valley in the world,” also raised concerns about staffing cuts and freezes.
“These staffing cuts that we’ve seen out of the administration and the funding freezes at the Department of the Interior are causing a great deal of uncertainty, and frankly, I have grave concerns over the ability to actually manage the [water] system.” Gray said. “How do we justify those cuts? It’s unclear, and I’d certainly like to work with you and your office to understand that.”
Gray then asked Burgum if the department would prioritize funding for water infrastructure projects and work with Congress to identify them.
Burgum agreed.
“I specifically would want to follow up with you, representative, because your knowledge of that district, you and other representatives that represent the Central Valley, would be key to these deliberations,” Burgum responded. “So, I look forward to working with you.”
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Em Luetkemeyer is a NOTUS reporter and an Allbritton Journalism Institute fellow.
This story was produced as part of a partnership between NOTUS and NewsWell, home of Times of San Diego, Santa Barbara News-Press and Stocktonia.
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