Cuts dominate 2012 budget expectations

A poll of Washington Technology website readers found that the expected budget cuts to be revealed in the 2012 budget submission are top of mind for government contractors.

We asked readers to pick the top question they want answered with the release of the 2012 budget request on Monday.

Among the choices were questions about the CIO power and the Office of Management and Budget’s 25-step plan. But those questions did not score well with the CIO only garnering 1 percent of the responses and the 25-step plan nabbed 6 percent.

Both issues are expected to have a place in the 2012 budget as tools for pushing the administration’s management agenda, sources have told Washington Technology.

But the question most readers want answered is “How deep will DOD cut its budget?” which was picked by 33 percent of the respondents. Another 26 percent wanted to see what areas in the budget will see the greatest reduction.

Many respondents are apparently focused on growth opportunities with 24 percent saying the question they want answered is, "What pockets in the budget will experience increases?"

Interestingly, the question about which agency will be the biggest budget loser didn’t garner many responses, with only 7 percent saying that was the question they wanted answered most.

Perhaps that reflects more interest in overall government trends and less interest in the budgets of individual agencies.

The fiscal 2012 budget is scheduled to be released Feb. 14.

Click here to see poll results.