Trump Nominee Grilled on Proposed 57% Cut to ARPA and USGS Budgets

Proposed Budget Cuts and Agency Missions

• ⚠️ Senator Catherine Cortez Masto questioned a Trump nominee regarding a proposed 57% budget cut to the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) for fiscal year 2026.
• 🎯 The nominee, Mr. Prohaska, stated he supports an "all of the above" energy approach if it is reliable, affordable, and secure.
• 💡 When asked about ARPA priorities, Prohaska indicated he would need to review the portfolio, emphasizing the agency's focus on high-risk, high-reward technologies with exponential potential impact.

Critical Minerals and Supply Chain Security

• 🔬 Senator Cortez Masto also raised concerns about proposed cuts to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which supports research into critical mineral supply chains.
• 🔗 She highlighted Nevada's role in this research, leveraging ARPA and USGS funding for innovative solutions in rare earth element separation and geological data.
• 📉 The senator expressed fear that cutting research funding would hinder U.S. dominance in energy and critical minerals, despite the president's stated priority.

Nominee's Commitment to Research Funding

• 🤝 Dr. Mimula, another nominee, acknowledged the importance of the partnership between federal and state geological surveys.
• 🗺️ While not privy to the budget's nuances, Mimula committed to making the funding for critical minerals, rare earths, and technology metals a national priority and a personal focus from day one.
• 🚫 Mimula also pledged to ensure that any grant funding decisions would remain nonpartisan, emphasizing that scientific endeavors should transcend political divisions.