Anticipating key points as the White House unveils Trump's inaugural budget blueprint
Host:
JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
With President Trump in office, the government's spending habits have undergone a significant transformation, decreasing the federal workforce and potentially dismantling entire agencies. Soon, we'll get a glimpse into the President's future plans with the White House's annual budget proposal. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben is joining us to discuss what we can anticipate from this year's proposal and why it could be more significant than others. Hey there, Danielle.
Danielle Kurtzleben:
Hey, Juana.
Juana Summers:
So, Danielle, what should we expect from the White House this time around?
Danielle Kurtzleben:
Well, we expect something to drop soon, though details are scarce. It'll likely be a so-called skinny budget, but this is just a broad outline presidents occasionally release before submitting the full budget proposal. A skinny budget usually provides each department or agency with a rough spending figure like X billion for Defense, X billion for Housing and Urban Development, and so on. This year's skinny budget has only included discretionary spending, so the big-ticket items like Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and revenue projections are left out. However, we'll get the White House's outlook on all of that when they submit a full budget, and right now, we're not sure when that'll happen.
Juana Summers:
But you're right—Congress has the power of the purse, and they're the ones who ultimately decide on spending bills. So, how significant is the President's budget in this process?
Danielle Kurtzleben:
The budget matters first of all because it's required by law. Beyond that, while most years, budget experts might tell you that the budget is hardly more than a political document, a wish list that lays out a president's priorities, this year's budget may be more meaningful than usual. Trump currently has incredible power over Congress, with Republican majorities in both houses, albeit slim ones. He's also remade the party, wielding significant influence in primaries, and members of Congress know this all too well.
Juana Summers:
Speaking of influence, any thoughts on the White House's efforts led by Elon Musk, known as DOGE? How does that fit into this?
Danielle Kurtzleben:
Good question. I asked budget expert Jessica Riedel of the Manhattan Institute about that, and she suggested that's another reason this budget could provide more insight than usual. DOGE has already begun enacting spending cuts that Congress might approve unilaterally. The president's budget could serve as a sneak peek of what DOGE will attempt to enact without Congressional approval.
Juana Summers:
Alright, Danielle. What will you be looking for in this year's presidential budget?
Danielle Kurtzleben:
Two things: a split between defense and non-defense spending—will Trump up spending for Defense while proposing cuts to scientific research, the National Weather Service, or the Education Department, which he has expressed a desire to eliminate? A skinny budget leaves many big and important questions unanswered, particularly regarding entitlements. For example, the administration has stated that it doesn't want to cut Medicaid, but Congress is now considering a package that includes deep cuts to Medicaid, threatening health insurance for millions of people. So, will the administration embrace these cuts as part of its budget proposals?
Juana Summers:
Thanks for that, Danielle. That's NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben.
- The President's budget, while typically seen as a political document, could be more significant this year due to President Trump's influence over Congress.
- Danielle Kurtzleben, during her discussion with Juana Summers, mentioned that Congress has the power of the purse, meaning they ultimately decide on spending bills.
- The White House's annual budget proposal is expected to include a rough spending figure for each department or agency, as part of a so-called skinny budget.
- The President's budget process is required by law, but details about the upcoming proposal are scarce.
- In terms of what to look for in this year's presidential budget, Danielle Kurtzleben pointed out the split between defense and non-defense spending, particularly the President's possible desire to cut spending for education.
