An insider's guide to the 2015 budget

It's easy to dismiss the annual release of the president's budget as political theater, but it's hard to ignore the policy and spending priorities that will guide government actions whatever the final budget numbers are.

When we first started talking about how we’d cover the president’s 2015 budget proposal, I wanted to start with a joke along the lines of the classic, “If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a noise.”

I know that’s snarky, but so often the hoopla that surrounds the budget release seems like an exercise in futility, particularly in the current political environment.

But there is no denying the depth of the policy statement that the budget documents contain and the priorities that will direct spending initiatives, whatever the final budget numbers are.

With that in mind, we’ve gathered some of the better coverage we’ve seen around the web. Think of it as a readers’ guide to the 2015 budget.

Obama 2015 budget: $3.9 trillion

Here is Politico’s breakdown of how the president’s proposed budget would boost technology, transportation and education spending, trim healthcare spending, while fully-funding the Affordable Care Act, and cut deeply into military and energy spending.

IT spending dips slightly in Obama budget request

First the numbers: the proposed budget includes $79 billion in IT spending, down slightly from $81.4 billion for fiscal 2014. The defense side of the budget takes the hit, dropping to $35.4 billion in 2015, versus $37.6 billion this year. Civil spending is up a bit at $43.7 billion.

But this piece by FCW’s Adam Mazmanian also explores the administration’s plan for IT oversight reform, which will add more responsibilities to the federal CIO’s portfolio.

Some of the oversight moves include greater use of TechStat and Portfolio Stat as well as developing governmentside website templates and making it easier to deploy talented coders and IT personnel from agency to agency.

Federal CIO Steve VanRoekel also wants more standards and policies to drive a “more effective citizen experience.”

Where are those cyber dollars going?

More than a half-billion dollars—$549 million, to be exact—of President Obama’s $38.2 million discretionary budget for the Homeland Security Department will go to support the continued implementation of the Einstein managed security service, FCW reports. The cyber budget also aims to charter a Federal Cyber Campus that would co-locate key civilian cybersecurity agencies to promote an expansive approach to cyber incident response. $514 million will go to cyber R&D, and $124 million will be put forward to support, expand and enhance Citizenship and Immigration Services’ E-Verify system.

Obama budget plan challenges cuts to training, customer service

From Government Executive comes a story looking at proposals in the budget to restore training and customer service initiatives, particularly at the IRS, Social Security Administration and Veterans Affairs.

New spending is called to improve online and in-person services such as reducing wait times for Social Security checks, and the creation of an e-benefits portal for VA.

Who gets more, and who gets less?

In perhaps one of the most relevant articles to federal contractors, the Washington Post outlines the changes in funding levels for each department, answering the simple question of, “who gets more, and who gets less?” There’s some good news and bad news; whereas the Defense Department will see a 0.1 percent decrease in spending this year, Veterans Affairs will enjoy a 3 percent increase.

Boehner, GOP dismiss Obama budget, Murray sees potential compromises

Roll Call’s Steven Dennis describes “the instant-reaction kabuki of party leaders” reacting to the budget announcement, including House Speaker John Boehner ripping President Obama’s budget blueprint.

The GOP sees new revenue proposals as a “nonstarter” but Senate Budget Committee Chair Patty Murray, a Democrat, saw some areas for bipartisanship, such as changes to the corporate tax code to invest in an infrastructure package.

Obama’s budget seeks overall of business-tax codes

From the Wall Street Journal: The president’s budget calls for $150 billion in infrastructure funding – to come from a corporate tax code overhaul. 

Why Obama’s pitch for $56B in new spending might actually happen

Given the current political climate, you might think that something President Obama calls the Opportunity, Growth and Security Initiative that includes new taxes and new spending would die a quick death.

But the Washington Business Journal’s Jill Aitoro quotes analyst Loren Thompson as saying that the Opportunity fund as it’s called gives Congress the opportunity once again to avoid the pain of sequestration during an election year.

Obama’s $3.9T budget is ambitious

The Washington Post reported that President Obama is being ambitious with his $3.9 trillion budget proposal, seeking to boost economic growth while taming the national debt through higher taxes on wealthier Americans, nixing payments to health providers, and overhauling immigration laws.

Charts break down the difference between Obama, CBO budgets

In this budget breakdown article, Christopher Ingraham walks through two charts that help you understand Obama’s new budget, which Ingraham said forecasts a dramatic reduction in deficits over the next 10 years.

X
This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. Learn More / Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Accept Cookies
X
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference. You cannot opt-out of our First Party Strictly Necessary Cookies as they are deployed in order to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting the cookie banner and remembering your settings, to log into your account, to redirect you when you log out, etc.). For more information about the First and Third Party Cookies used please follow this link.

Allow All Cookies

Manage Consent Preferences

Strictly Necessary Cookies - Always Active

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data, Targeting & Social Media Cookies

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information to third parties. These cookies collect information for analytics and to personalize your experience with targeted ads. You may exercise your right to opt out of the sale of personal information by using this toggle switch. If you opt out we will not be able to offer you personalised ads and will not hand over your personal information to any third parties. Additionally, you may contact our legal department for further clarification about your rights as a California consumer by using this Exercise My Rights link

If you have enabled privacy controls on your browser (such as a plugin), we have to take that as a valid request to opt-out. Therefore we would not be able to track your activity through the web. This may affect our ability to personalize ads according to your preferences.

Targeting cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

Social media cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.

If you want to opt out of all of our lead reports and lists, please submit a privacy request at our Do Not Sell page.

Save Settings
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Cookie List

A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website – when visited by a user – asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies – which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting – for our advertising and marketing efforts. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking technologies for the following purposes:

Strictly Necessary Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Functional Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Performance Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Social Media Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Targeting Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.