NSPS press release

[hellsangle]

The White House issues Executive Order to review all FACAs; DOI in the crosshairs?

NSPS members and expertise serve on numerous Federal Advisory Committees, commonly referred to as FACAs and some of the better known ones are the HSRP, TMAC, and NGAC. Earlier this month, President Trump issued an executive order directing all agencies to cut their advisory boards by “at least” one third and to “evaluate the need” for each of their current advisory committees. The order gives agencies until Sept. 30 to terminate, at a minimum, one-third of their committees. Committees that qualify for the chopping block include those that have completed their objective, had their work taken up by other panels or where the subject matter has “become obsolete.” There are an average of 1,000 advisory committees with more than 60,000 members, according to data from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), that cover a range of topics including disposal of high-level nuclear waste, the depletion of atmospheric ozone, addressing AIDS and improving schools. The Interior Department currently has more than 100 federal advisory committees. According to a 2017 internal review, Interior’s committees incurred more than $10 million in direct and indirect costs annually, the spokesperson said. The review also found that, at the time of review, 41 committees had submitted fewer than 20 recommendations to Interior.

[pls5528]

Just as it has been in the past three or four decades, anything that has to do with surveying (whether it is in the federal level, state or city level) is considered nonessential. Most of it is because of pure ignorance. What our FACA's do, as well as other agencies tied to it, are essential for all of us in the Land Surveying Industry. My opinion is that if there are to be cuts on the federal budget, let us start with being involved with decade-long wars which don't have any benefit to this country (other than perhaps oil?).