What does it mean for a government program to be off-budget? Q.What does it mean for a government program to be off-budget? A.The two Social Security trust funds and the postal service are “off-budget”—their spending and receipts are walled off from the rest of the budget. Putting Social Security and the post office off-budget shields them from some pressures, but policymakers often focus on the unified budget that includes them. A few other agencies are excluded because of their independence (e.g., the Federal Reserve) or private character (e.g., government-sponsored, privately owned entities and funds managed for private citizens). Read more about What does it mean for a government program to be off-budget?
How did the TCJA affect the federal budget outlook? Q.How did the TCJA affect the federal budget outlook? A.The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act cut taxes substantially from 2018 through 2025. The resulting deficits will add $1 to $2 trillion to the federal debt, according to official estimates. The debt increase will be larger if some of TCJA’s temporary tax cuts are extended. Read more about How did the TCJA affect the federal budget outlook?
What is reconciliation? Q.What is reconciliation? A.Congressional budget committees use the reconciliation process to ensure tax laws and mandatory spending programs are revised according to the budget resolution’s revenue and mandatory spending targets. Reconciliation is a way to fast-track revenue and spending legislation into becoming law. Read more about What is reconciliation?
