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On February 1, President Obama unveiled his $3.8 trillion budget for fiscal year 2011. The budget projects a deficit of $1.27 trillion while placing a total freeze on non-security domestic spending.  That freeze has resulted in cutbacks in most of the key federal construction accounts.  According to ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½'s analysis,  the Administration's proposed total of $112.4 billion for construction projects represents a nearly $9 billion, or 7.5 percent, decrease from the $121.5 billion appropriated for construction projects in FY 2010 (this does not include ARRA funds). While the budget recommends a mix of increases and reductions in programs across market areas, it does recommend boosting a few construction programs (albeit very modestly) including 1 percent increases for both the highway and transit programs.  In addition, the Administration is calling for the creation of a $4 billion National Infrastructure Bank for transportation projects of regional or national significance. In contrast, the proposed budget cuts the construction budget for the Army Corps of Engineers' Civil-Works Program from $2 billion in 2010 to $1.7 billion, a 17% decrease.  The Environmental Protection Agency budget would cut the Clean-Water State Revolving Funds by 5% to $2 billion and the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds by 7% to $1.2 billion. The President's budget is simply a request of the Administration's priorities for the next fiscal year and the first step in the federal budget process.  ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ will continue to advocate for the increased federal investment in the nation's infrastructure and public facilities through the nearly 100 construction programs at the federal level. A cover-page story from about President Obama's 2011 budget request, quotes ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½'s CEO, Steve Sandherr, talking about how the budget has a mixed outlook for construction, the positives being the President continues to see investing in infrastructure as a good way to boost the economy.  The negatives include significant cuts to the Army Corps of Engineers budget. For a chart compiled by ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ that compares the Administration's FY 2011 budget request, . For more information contact Sean O'Neill at neills@agc.org or 202-547-8892.