After weeks of gradual leaks, the White House has released the official outline of its federal budget request for FY 18. This budget blueprint, titled “America First: A Budget to Make America Great Again,” if enacted, would cut $54 million from federal programs to increase defense spending by the same amount. A more detailed budget from the White House is expected later this spring but, as it stands in its current form, the budget calls for the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and a host of other independent agencies (including three that provide vital support to rural communities) – see page 11 of the document for an extensive list.   Read more