More budget requests heard by House appropriations as federal cuts continue
Apr 02, 2025
The Louisiana House Appropriations Committee reviewed budget requests from several state agencies this week, with many facing significant cuts in federal funding.
The Department of Agriculture and Forestry is requesting a total budget of $95.9 million, a $25 million decrease from last year. Of that
total, $35.3 million would come from the state’s general fund, while federal funding is set at $12.9 million.
The largest allocations include $28 million for management and finance, $26 million for forestry, and $15 million for animal health and food safety.
Louisiana Economic Development is seeing one of the most dramatic reductions, with a total budget request of $62.6 million — a $58 million drop from the previous year.
This includes a $50 million net decrease in federal funds, with $31.9 million of that loss attributed to reduced allocations from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Despite the funding cut, expenditures are set to rise by $7 million.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission submitted a budget request of $300 million, with $166.7 million coming from federal sources, largely through employment security grants and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The commission’s total budget decreased by nearly $1 million, including a $636,000 reduction in federal funding.
The Department of Insurance is requesting $56.8 million, with no funds from the state’s general fund. Instead, $41 million will come from self-generated revenue, $15 million from statutory dedications, and $800,000 from federal funds. The largest portion, $40 million, is allocated to market compliance.
The federal funding cuts are having a broad impact across state agencies. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries faces a $94 million budget decrease, driven by a $71 million reduction in federal allocations. Some cuts are the result of previous funds having served their purpose.
The Department of Energy and Natural Resources is also seeing a $15 million shortfall due to delays in federal infrastructure grants, while the Department of Environmental Quality’s budget is down by $6.2 million in self-generated revenue and $1.6 million from the state’s general fund.
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