The CR's total spending cuts will exceed $74 billion, including $58 billion in non-security discretionary spending reductions, according to a House Appropriations Committee statement. 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.

"Never before has Congress undertaken a task of this magnitude. The cuts in this CR will represent the largest reduction in discretionary spending in the history of our nation," said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Harold Rogers, R-Kentucky. "Make no mistake; these cuts are not low-hanging fruit. These cuts are real and will impact every district across the country -- including my own. As I have often said, every dollar we cut has a constituency, an industry, an association, and individual citizens who will disagree with us."

Last week 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 (see Feb. 4 AASHTO Journal story). That 17% cut is the largest reduction given to any of the 12 subcommittees.

The proposed CR would cut the high-speed rail program by $1 billion, just days after Vice President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood proposed expanding the nation's high-speed rail investment by $53 billion over the next six years (see related story).

Also included in the CR are $224 million in FY2011 cuts for Amtrak, and $234 million in cuts for the FAA's Next Gen program.

In later developments, the House leadership has advised that additional cuts to meet a target of $100 billion from the President's original FY 2011 budget request may be forthcoming today. That is an increase from the $74 billion already announced. Additional details will be made available as they are released.