US Government Budget Process and Proposed Changes

This article discusses the US government budget process and proposed changes in funding for various departments. It also provides an opinion on the proposed changes. The proposed increase in funding for school safety programs is timely and rational, while the proposed reduction in funding for the USAID is aimed at encouraging other countries to provide humanitarian assistance. The proposal to cut funding for the Department of Energy is likely to require a continuing resolution.

Running head: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 1
Public Administration
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PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 2
Public Administration
The US government budget process is currently in the approval phase. This follows the
preparation phase whose climax is the budget document or budget documents. The budget
document has to be prepared and submitted to Congress between the first Monday in January and
the first Monday in February. After the budget document has been submitted, budget resolutions
are have to be completed by April 15 (Lee, Johnson & Phillip, 2012). Between April 15 and
September 30 which is the end of the fiscal year, authorizing committees enact relevant
legislation to give consent to the funding of government programs outlined in the budget (Lee,
Johnson & Phillip, 2012). Authorizing and appropriations committees are currently working on
legislation that will provide funds to the programs in the budget proposed by the President.
In my opinion, the recommendation to increase funding in the Department of Education
for targeted investments in school safety should be approved without trouble. The proposal to
increase spending on school safety programs comes in the wake of mass shootings in schools and
other threats to security. The recommendation is arguably very timely as concerns about the
security of children in schools affects virtually every adult and importantly affects law makers as
well. Additionally, the proposed use of funds is rational; the funds will be used to develop
emergency operation plans in schools and to provide counseling and emotional support to
affected students and staff (US Government Publishing Office, 2019). The funds are also going
to be used to implement programs that are meant to improve behavioral outcomes. The intended
use of the additional funds seems rational and timely and as such the increase is likely to be
approved without trouble.

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 3
The budget has proposed cutting expenditure on the Department of Interior and
specifically the USAID by 23% (US Government Publishing Office, 2019). This would be a
significant reduction. The reduction in funding to the USAID is guided by the desire to maintain
a leadership position in providing humanitarian assistance to needy countries while expecting
other countries to do more. In the recent past, new economic giants such as China and numerous
Asian tigers have emerged. These countries have however not provided significant contribution
to the international humanitarian crises. Yemen, Iraq and Syria are currently in the middle of a
deep humanitarian crisis yet the amount of resources flowing to them is limited. By reducing its
budget on aid programs, the US is shinning the spotlight on other countries that have the ability
to provide humanitarian assistance but for some reason choose not to. The world is a global
village and there is need for all players to be accountable and mindful of the welfare of others.
The US should not have to bear the burden of providing humanitarian aid to virtually every point
where such need exists.
One of the proposals that is likely to require a continuing resolution is the proposal to cut
funding given to the department of energy. The global trend is to invest more in energy with the
aim of improving energy efficiency. By cutting funding, the US will be going against the global
trend. There is likely to be a deadlock as there is a significant number of law makers who will
want to be seen to be supporting global conservation efforts.

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 4
References
Lee, R., Johnson, R. & Phillip, J. (2012). Public Budgeting Systems. New York: Jones & Bartlett
Learning.
US Government Publishing Office. (2019). Fiscal Year 2020Budget for the US Government.
Retrieved from: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/budget-
fy2020.pdf