Politically directed earmarks take away from agency mission and budget
Pork up 17% at Natural Resource Conservation Service
May 7, 2006
The Natural Resource Conservation Service (agency within USDA) cites the growth of Congressional earmarks as a major reason why it is no longer able to assist state conservation agencies with technical assistance funds at the same levels as it has in the past.
The agency notes that in FY 2006, “the level of Congressional earmarks (in the NRCS budget) increased by $10.6 million over the FY 2005 level.” This means that nearly 17% of the overall program account in the Conservation Technical Assistance program is consumed by politically directed earmarks. This prevents the agency, in part, from ensuring “a merit based distribution of funds and from supporting priority conservation work across the nation.”
