President Trump Again Proposes 5 Percent Across the Board Budget Cuts – But How Is the New Congress Responding?

ANCOR is sharing this article by Roll Call because it is important for our members to understand the fiscal policy approach the White House has in 2019, as budgetary negotiations between Congress and the White House will likely absorb a large amount of policy-maker’s attention in the coming months. This will affect not only the attention disability issues will receive, but the mindset with which disability policy proposals are received. Members might recall a similar proposal from the White House in 2018 – similarly to then, this proposal from the White House is primarily an indicator of the President’s priorities and outlook, because Congress is the branch of government that appropriates federal funding.

As written by Roll Call:

“Vought also confirmed that Trump will propose a 5 percent cut to nondefense programs, which the president floated last year, though it’s unclear what baseline the administration is using. If it’s a 5 percent cut from fiscal 2019 spending, the total nondefense allocation would be $30 billion lower at $567 billion; that would still require a $25 billion increase in the fiscal 2020 spending cap, which under current law would be cut to $542 billion, or 9 percent below this year’s levels.

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The White House plans to send a fiscal 2020 budget to Congress in two tranches in March. The first portion is expected the week of March 11 and the second is coming the week of March 18.”

Politico Pro shared some additional information on Congress expected response this proposal:

“House Democrats, seeking increases to non-defense spending, said Trump’s proposed cuts won’t get past Congress. And both Republicans and Democrats have said they don’t support the Trump administration’s plan to skirt defense spending caps.”