Washington — The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved legislation that would maintain the Chemical Safety Board’s current budget through fiscal year 2026.
The bill, sent to the full Senate after a 26-2 vote on July 24, allocates $14.4 million to the agency. That’s considerably more than a counterpart House appropriations bill, which allocates $8.2 million.
The Trump administration once again has sought to eliminate CSB in its FY 2026 budget proposal, released May 30. During President Donald Trump’s first term, the agency was on the chopping block each fiscal year, but Congress chose to provide funding to the agency each time.
In response, CSB published a video in June highlighting its accomplishments in nearly three decades of existence, including issuing more than 1,000 safety recommendations. The video also features a brief review of agency investigations into serious chemical incidents over the years.
“Strong safety programs are critical for the economic success of our nation’s chemical industry and for the health and safety of the people who work in chemical facilities and those who live near them,” CSB Chair Steve Owens says in the video. “If the CSB’s many safety lessons have prevented at least one catastrophic chemical incident, the money saved by protecting lives, preventing serious injuries and damage to facilities, safeguarding surrounding communities, and avoiding costly litigation and legal settlements far exceeds the CSB’s modest annual budget.”
