THE BUDGET PROCESS

The White House and the federal agencies interact extensively before the President releases his proposed budget. Here is a summary of the budget process for FY2004:
 

Things start rolling long  before the release of the President's budget...
 
 
• Summer 02: Federal agencies submit their FY 2004 proposals to OMB

• Fall 02: Agencies negotiate with OMB over their FY 2004 proposals

• Jan 03: Agencies finalize their requests

• Feb 03: President Bush releases his proposed FY 2004 budget to the Congress

• Spring 03: Congress approves its FY 2004 Budget Resolution
 
Establishing broad spending and revenue targets
Total discretionary spending divided among 13 appropriations bills
• June-Sept 03: (Senate) Appropriations Subcommittees  and (House) Appropriation Subcommittees write 13 bills
 
VA-HUD deals with NASA, NSF
hearings; bill amendments;  approval Appropriations Committees
Earmarks

• Sept 03: The House and the Senate versions to Conference. Send the Report to the President for signature.

• Sept 30, 03: President's signature on the Conference Report. If the President vetoes a bill, start over.

• Oct 1, 03: Beginning of fiscal year 2004;

• Repeat the above process for the FY 2005 budget.

 
The whole process can be viewed as a Cycle
 

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