Possible $13.4 Million Library of Congress Budget Cut Possible

UPDATE: The Bill Discussed in the Article Below Was Passed by the Senate at 5:28 PM on April 14, 2011.

From a Roll Call Article:

“In making difficult funding decisions, efforts focused on not requiring the Library of Congress, the Government Accountability Office, the Government Printing Office, and the Congressional Budget Office to furlough employees half way through the fiscal year,” according to a Senate summary*** of the legislative branch provisions of the bill.

But the Library, which would be forced to absorb a $13.4 million cut from 2010 levels, would be hit the hardest and would likely have to reduce staff.

“The level of funding provided in the [continuing resolution] proposal would require a hiring freeze with no new hires, and core services and products will be delayed as staff levels are reduced,” the Senate summary states. A Library spokeswoman said the agency will soon determine where the cuts will be absorbed.

Read the Complete Article

Hat Tip and Thanks: @naypinya and @dchud

*** Here’s the Complete Text From the Senate Appropriations Committee Summary (2 Pages; PDF)

Library of Congress.The CR provides $629.9 million in funding for the Library of Congress, a reduction of $13.4 million (-2%) below the FY 10 enacted level, but an increase of $27.4 million (4.5%) above the level provided in H.R. 1. The funding level provided in the CR proposal will require a hiring freeze, and core services and products will be delayed as staff levels are reduced.

By contrast, the funding cuts contained in H.R. 1 would have require the LOC to furlough all Library staff for approximately eight weeks, including a complete closure of Library facilities and services during that period. In other words, for two months of the remaining six months, the Library would have to be closed.

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