The American Institute of Architects (AIA) issued the following statement after the Administration submitted to Congress its final Fiscal Year 2018 federal budget on May 23.
AIA President Thomas Vonier, FAIA, said:
“Unfortunately, this budget includes many of the same cuts we criticized in the March draft of the Administration’s budget — in fact, it makes further cuts to programs that are most valuable to architects and their clients.
“It’s difficult to see how a 31 percent cut to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) budget strengthens that agency’s mission to protect the environment. The proposed cuts eliminate successful and innovative programs, including Energy Star, which help to promote energy efficient buildings and cities.
“The proposed cuts at the Department of Energy (DOE) will set back the progress we’ve made in designing more efficient buildings and communities. The Administration is proposing an 18 percent cut in DOE’s non-nuclear weapons programs, including a 33 percent cut to the Building Technologies Office.
“Today, 654 architecture firms signed a letter coordinated by the AIA, to Energy Secretary Rick Perry, identifying the programs we know are crucial to preserving America’s leadership in energy efficient design and construction.”
