The President's Budget: Why Does It Matter?

What’s the story?

The news media is full of stories about different aspects of the president’s budget for FY2019, which was released Monday. All of those stories are important. The devil is in the details, as they say. But it’s also true that much of the president’s budget will never see the light of day in terms of actual policy. So, what does it actually mean? Why does it actually matter?

President Trump’s budget matters because it is a philosophical document. It presents a picture of what the administration believes about the role of government, the state of the economy, and the future of the country. It reveals the underlying priorities that guide their decision-making and policy prescriptions.

Government Executive featured a summary chart of all the government departments and major agencies detailed in the budget. It shows what the last budget (FY2017) that was passed planned for each, and how President Trump’s FY2019 budget compares.

What do you think?

What do you see as the administration’s priorities? Do you support those priorities or not? How would you change them, if at all? How would you like to see Congress respond to them when they create the actual budget for FY2019?

Tell us in the comments what you think, then use the Take Action button to tell your reps!

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— Asha Sanaker

(Photo Credit: Wikipedia / Creative Commons)