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A Look Ahead

Despite White House Calls to Eliminate Funding, Legal Services Corporation Proposes Budget Increase

For the third consecutive year, President Trump has for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), the independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974 to provide financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans. The proposal to defund LSC comes as LSC celebrates its 45th anniversary as theÌýnation’s single largest funder of civil legal aid.

As the need for legal assistance grows, law libraries and legal information professionals are taking on new roles and services to support the administration of justice and provide access to trustworthy legal information. LSC promotes innovative partnerships and collaborations with other funders of civil legal aid, allowing providers to make the best use of limited dollars. DefundingÌýLSC would threaten equitable access to information and access to justice for millions of Americans.

Fortunately, the President’s budget is a proposal, not law; the U.S. Constitution designates the “power of the purse” as a function of Congress.ÌýIn Fiscal Year 2019,ÌýCongress funded LSC at $415 million, $5 million more than FY 2018 and a $30 million increase over FY 2017. This year, LSC has submitted a forÌý$593 million, an increase over last year’s request of $564.8 million.

In reaction to the President’s proposal, , “I believe that the bipartisan support LSC has enjoyed in Congress for almost 45 years will continue long into the future. We are grateful that Congress recognizes LSC’s vital importance in ensuring equal access to justice and has increased our funding in each of the last two fiscal years.”

Continuous improvement in access to justice is one of ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ’s core values and one our public policy priorities. ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ will continue to support full funding for LSC.

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