President Obama recently submitted his Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 (October 1, 2016 – September 30, 2017) budget request to the U.S. Congress. Among other things included in the Administration’s wish list to fund the federal government next year is an 8.2% increase for the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), from $105,476,000 in FY 2016 to $114,169,000 in FY 2017.
The President’s formal submission to Congress of his proposed annual budget marks the beginning of an often months-long Congressional process to determine executive branch funding to cover FY 2017 operations. According to the 31-page “budget justification statement” prepared by OFCCP in conjunction with submission of the President’s FY 2017 budget request, the agency intends to use some of the increased funds to develop two new “Skilled Regional Centers” to house specialized enforcement personnel likely to target the financial services and information technology industries.
After a big budget increase in FY 2010, OFCCP has essentially operated with a flat budget ever since, as the Republican-led Congress has turned down repeated Administration requests for additional funding for the agency. It is too early to predict whether this year will be any different.
Members of the Equal Employment Advisory Council (EEAC) can read more here.