White House budget director says he's 'open' to working with Scott, Rubio to increase Everglades funding

The acting director of the White House's Office of Management and Budget said his department is open to working with Florida lawmakers to increase funding for Everglades restoration projects.

Russell Vought answered questions from Sen. Rick Scott about Everglades funding during a Senate Budget Committee hearing Wednesday afternoon. 

Scott, Sen. Marco Rubio, Gov. Ron DeSantis and several members of Florida's congressional delegation requested at least $200 million in funding for Everglades projects. Trump's budget provides more than $63 million instead. 

More: President Donald Trump's budget has less for Everglades projects than Florida leaders want

Scott told Vought he was "disappointed" there wasn't more for Everglades restoration in the budget recommendations. 

Last year, Trump's budget recommended $68 million for Everglades projects. After heading through the appropriations process in Congress, the Corps received about $110 million total in Everglades restoration funding last year. 

Vought said Everglades restoration is a priority for the Trump Administration, and pointed out the Everglades receive more money in the budget recommendation than any other ecosystem project. 

More: Scott, Rubio, DeSantis ask Trump to fund Everglades restoration projects

The budget recommendation from the White House is only a recommendation, and Congress holds responsibility for appropriating federal funding for projects. 

Vought said OMB had concerns about the pace the Corps was currently running at with ongoing projects, and they didn't want them to take on too many others. 

"We want to be able to ensure that they work on projects that are already in the pipeline, but we are certainly able to work with you on an ongoing basis," he said. 

Scott also asked Vought if there were any plans to divert funds dedicated tor repairs of the Herbert Hoover Dike for other projects.

More: Herbert Hoover Dike repairs could cost Florida taxpayers though Army Corps has money

More: Herbert Hoover dike gets $50 million boost from SFWMD so Army Corps can expedite rehab

Vought said he isn't "aware" of plans to do so. 

Senators on both sides of the aisle have been concerned the White House will try to use funds from the Army Corps of Engineers budget to construct a border wall on the U.S.-Mexico border as part of a national emergency declaration. 

More: Trump vows to find more money to fund a border wall. Where is he looking for it?

Senators voted to cancel the declaration Thursday, but Trump immediately announced he will veto the resolution. 

Alex Gillen, Bullsugar's policy director, said the best thing the Corps could do to improve the health of local waterways is update water management operations at the Corps to reduce freshwater discharges from Lake Okeechobee.

More: Army Corps announces plan to revise some discharges from Lake Okeechobee

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"We could most likely stop more discharges right now by changing the priorities of how we operate the system than we can with all the infrastructure of CERP," Gillen said.  "Solving the problem is not all about funding or building infrastructure.  A lot of solving the problem is modernizing operations and priorities."