The EPA Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation

The EPA Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation, Division of Development, Community, and Environment — often known as the “smart growth office” — was facing potential severe budget cuts by the Bush Administration as of early summer. “The already small budget has been proposed for a cut of roughly a third, removing four full-time staffers — a priceless loss of practical experience and knowledge — and more than $500,000 in other funding,” Parris Glendening, president of the Smart Growth Leadership Institute, reported on the website Planetizen June 20. However, language inserted by Sen. Dianne Feinstein and passed by the Senate may save the $3 million office from such drastic cuts, it was reported by David Goldberg, communications director of Smart Growth America.