Rogers acted Thursday to release the allocations for the panel's 12 subcommittees, known as "302b levels." His comments come after House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, earlier Thursday released the discretionary budget authority ceiling for the remainder of FY 2011. That number is $1.055 trillion, $34 billion less than the present $1.089 trillion level, National Journal reported.

The federal government is currently operating on a continuing resolution that expires March 4 because the last Congress did not pass any of the 12 full-year appropriations measures for the current federal fiscal year that began Oct. 1.

The $1.055 trillion spending cap is $74 billion less than President Barack Obama's FY 2011 budget request, from which House Republicans have pledged to cut $100 billion -- roughly the same amount needed to cut FY 2011 nonsecurity discretionary spending to FY 2008 levels.

With the next spending measure the House will take up the week of Feb. 14, "we will respond to the millions of Americans who have called on this Congress to rein in spending and help our economy grow and our businesses create jobs," Rodgers said in a statement. "It is my intention -- and that of my committee -- to craft a responsible, judicious [continuing resolution] that will significantly reduce government spending, begin to get our nation's finances in order so that the economy can thrive, and provide essential resources for our national security."

Rodgers directed the House Transportation, Housing & Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee to trim FY 2011 budget authority to $56.3 billion from the FY 2010 enacted level of $67.9 billion. That 17% cut is the largest reduction given to any of the 12 subcommittees.

The numbers released are major reductions to domestic discretionary programs. However, the federal-aid highway program is governed by obligation limitations with its budget authority in the mandatory accounts, not in the House THUDRAAS discretionary allocations. That leaves it unclear whether any reduction will be made to the highway program. In contrast, parts of the transit program and other U.S. Department of Transportation initiatives such as high-speed rail are likely to be reduced.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, called the House GOP plan "even more draconian" than he had expected.

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Executive Director John Horsley called the proposed cuts troubling.

"At a time when the construction industry is suffering record unemployment and the nation's surface transportation needs are never more evident, we can ill afford these kind of reductions," he said.