Department of Commerce
Overview
The FY2027 budget plan would cut Commerce Department funding by about 12%, from $10.5 billion to $9.2 billion. The largest hits come from a 40% cut to NOAA (weather forecasting, fisheries, and coastal programs), a 45% cut to NIST's manufacturing support, and the full elimination of digital equity broadband funding, minority business development, and regional economic development programs. Together, these changes would reduce services for coastal and rural communities, manufacturers, minority-owned businesses, and the roughly 42 million Americans who still lack home broadband access.
6 programs affected · $5.4B total proposed reduction
Program-level cuts
NTIA Digital Equity
National Telecommunications and Information Administration — Digital Equity Programs
Rural, elderly, tribal, and disabled populations lacking broadband access; ~42 million Americans without home broadband
Weather forecasting; fisheries ($300B+ industry); coastal communities; climate researchers; Sea Grant programs in all coastal states
Manufacturing Extension Partnership centers in all 50 states (~33,000 manufacturers served annually); standards researchers
Distressed communities; regional economic development organizations; ~1,200 communities annually
U.S. exporters; commercial service officers at 100+ posts worldwide
Minority-owned businesses; the only federal agency dedicated to minority business development