Yesterday, President Donald Trump released his proposed budget for 2018. The news clips below share some early analysis on how this proposal could affect the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut metropolitan area and some of the issues covered by this organization.

New Jersey

“The spending cuts are targeted at programs helping the neediest Americans, including food stamps and Medicaid. Transportation and environmental expenditures also are on the chopping block. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) called the Trump budget ​‘cruel and unusual punishment.’ ” (NJ.com)

Connecticut

“The $4.1 trillion budget proposal President Donald Trump sent to Congress Tuesday includes massive cuts in programs for the poor that would do great harm to Connecticut’s most vulnerable populations, according to advocates and social service providers. But the budget also includes billions of dollars to build helicopters, fighter jet engines and submarines in Connecticut.” (Hartford Courant)

New York City

“There are no final numbers yet, but Mayor Bill de Blasio said Trump’s budget cuts could result in: - At least $100 million in cuts to public schools - $150 million in cuts to public housing - Cuts in infrastructure projects like the Second Avenue subway extension - Cuts in meals on wheels for seniors - $190 million in cuts to the NYPD’s counterterrorism effort.” (ABC 7 NY)

Housing and Community Development

“Low-income New Yorkers living in federally-subsidized housing would have to pay a larger portion of their earnings toward rent under a measure included in President Donald Trump’s proposed $40.7 billion housing budget unveiled Tuesday. The change would impact 113,500 New York tenants who currently pay no more than 30 percent of their annual incomes in rent. Those tenants would be charged up to 35 percent if the provision is enacted.” (Politico New York) ​“If adopted by Congress, the defunding of the Community Development Block Grant program would eliminate a major source of Kingston’s discretionary spending — and the only funds directly targeted to the city’s low income and at-risk population.” (Hudson Valley 1) ​“Some communities on Long Island are set to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars for essential programs if President Donald Trump’s proposed cuts to Community Development Block Grant funds are approved.” (News 12 Long Island)

Climate Change, Open Space & Energy

Mr. Trump’s budget, released Tuesday, says it will raise about $36 billion over the next 10 years by selling off major American energy resources and infrastructure, opening up vast new areas of public land for oil and gas drilling, and redirecting state revenues from oil and gas royalties back to Washington. At the same time, the budget would cut $3.1 billion from energy research programs at the Energy Department, an 18 percent reduction from last year’s spending. (New York Times)

The full budget restates the earlier proposal to cut funding for the Environmental Protection Agency by 31 percent, creating deep cuts across the board. (PBS NewsHour)

President Donald Trump’s proposed $11.7 billion budget for the Department of the Interior raises spending for national parks and oil and gas development, while taking the ax to climate change and other science programs in a plan that has outraged environmental groups. (Wall Street Journal)

Infrastructure & Transportation

“As expected, [the budget] laid out a vision for $200 billion in direct federal spending over the next decade on needs such as roads, bridges, tunnels, railroads and expanded broadband, along with incentives for states, cities and private investors and efforts to reduce the burdens of regulations.” (Politico) ​“Getting a large portion of the funding [for the Gateway project] from Washington could be more difficult if part of Trump’s budget is adopted. The federal account, known as New Starts, that would be tapped for construction is facing a cut, from $2.2 billion to $1.2 billion. The budget also says that money that is budgeted should go to projects with ​“existing full funding grant agreements only,” something Gateway does not have.” [The Record] ​“Several federal lawmakers raised concerns about the elimination of several programs that help [New York State’s] infrastructure. They noted the end to so-called TIGER grants would endanger a $10 million grant for a bus system that is part of plans for the new Tappan Zee Bridge between Westchester and Rockland counties.” (Poughkeepsie Journal) ​“The U.S. DOT faces a 13 percent slash to its total discretionary budget. Between cuts to Amtrak, regional transit grants, and a plug-pull to the ailing Highway Trust Fund, a theme emerges: Projects that can’t turn a dime don’t deserve federal taxpayer support. Which means most infrastructure projects. Fixing roads, building bridges, and running trains, it seems, is worthwhile only when someone can profit.” (City Lab)

Photo: The White House