Budget Issues
Effects of the Fiscal Year 1990 Sequester at EPA Gao ID: RCED-90-196FS July 26, 1990Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the effects on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the fiscal year (FY) 1990 sequester under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended.
GAO found that: (1) the sequester resulted in a $73-million, or 1.3-percent, reduction in the EPA FY 1990 appropriation; (2) EPA officials identified a number of impacts from the sequester, as EPA could not carry out all planned activities; (3) EPA officials indicated that expense funds for such items as employee training and travel and the purchase and repair of computers and other equipment absorbed the largest impact; and (4) EPA offices took most of the reduction in the salaries and expenses account in the expenses portion of the account to protect funds for employee salaries and benefits.