Scott “Disappointed” with Everglades Restoration Budget

Since Governor Ron DeSantis’ election, an emphasis has been placed on the environment and restoring the Everglades. With President Trump’s new budget, questions arise about more funding being provided to ensure that the Everglades is restored.

Florida Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott along with other members of congress have asked for $200 million in funding to make the project come to fruition, but the Trump administration is willing to provide around $63 million.

In turn, Senator Scott told Russell Vought, the acting director of the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, that he was “disappointed” that more funding was not being provided for Everglades restoration in the budget recommendations. However, Vought assured that the department is open to working with Florida lawmakers to increase the budget for the restoration effort.

Vought further explained that Everglades restoration is a priority for the Trump administration, and he also specified that the Everglades received more funding in the budget recommendations than any other ecosystem project.

In addition, one concern the Office of Management and Budget has is the pace of the Army Corp of Engineers when it comes to ongoing projects, saying that the Office doesn’t want them to take on too many that they can’t handle. Last year, the Corp was given about $110 million that would be appropriated to help restore the Everglades.

Vought further detailed that the Office wants “to be able to ensure that they work on projects that are already in the pipeline, but we are certainly able to work with you on an ongoing basis.”

The concern that lawmakers now face is that money meant for the Army Corps of Engineers budget will be directed to build the wall across the southern border. While Senator Rick Scott voted in favor of President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency, Senator Marco Rubio voted against the President’s declaration.

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