Federal Budget Process
The federal budget process is the yearly cycle by which the president proposes and Congress decides how the government raises and spends money. It includes budget resolutions, appropriations bills, authorizations, reconciliation, and stopgap measures. The White House, congressional committees, and federal agencies all take part.
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All Articles on Federal Budget Process
How the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ Impacts Medicare and Medicaid
What the 2025 reconciliation law changes in Medicaid and Medicare, when its rules begin, who may be affected and where enrollees can get help.
How the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ Impacts Social Security
The "One Big, Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA) represents one of the most significant overhauls of federal fiscal policy in recent history. Passed on narrow,…
Debate: Pros and Cons for Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”
The Big Beautiful Bill combines tax relief with tighter benefit rules and new spending. Its strongest arguments turn on who gains, who loses and federal debt.
Understanding Federal Budget: On-Budget vs Off-Budget Spending
The U.S. federal government handles trillions of dollars every year, but tracking where that money goes isn't straightforward. Two key terms unlock much of…
Expansionary vs. Contractionary Fiscal Policy
Every time Congress debates spending bills or tax changes, they're wielding one of government's most powerful economic tools: fiscal policy. This is about actively…
Government Deficits Explained: When Uncle Sam Spends More Than He Takes In
When politicians talk about the federal budget, two words come up constantly: deficit and debt. Cable news hosts throw around trillion-dollar figures, and economists…
Decoding the Government’s Clock: Fiscal Year vs. Calendar Year in Budgeting
Government financial management operates on a defined timeline, but it's not always the familiar January-to-December calendar that governs our daily lives. Understanding these different…
Understanding Continuing Resolutions vs. Regular Appropriations
Continuing resolutions keep activities funded while regular appropriations are unfinished, with limits that shape spending, services and shutdown risk.
Understanding Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) vs. Statutory PAYGO in Federal Budgeting
The federal budget is a labyrinth of rules and jargon that can leave even the most engaged citizen feeling lost. At its heart, PAYGO…
How Congress Spends Your Money: Authorization vs. Appropriation
Why Congress passes two laws to fund one program, what an expired authorization actually stops, who gains when it lapses, and how to check your own program.