U.S. Budget Battles

For years, Republicans in Congress repeated the message over and over: federal spending was out of control. To rein it in, Republican lawmakers forced one government shutdown and several near-misses; eventually they reached budget-cutting agreements with Democratic President Barack Obama that helped pare the deficit for six straight years. The new occupant of the White House, Republican Donald Trump, says he wants to rebuild America’s infrastructure and expand its military while cutting personal and corporate taxes, and shielding entitlements like Social Security. Will the congressional Republicans who loathe red ink go along?

Trump first budget outline is scheduled to be released March 16. It’s expected to include a request for $54 billion more in military spending next year, paid for with cuts to domestic programs. The White House is also said to be preparing a supplemental request for as much as $30 billion more for the military this year, paid for with deficit spending. Trump is preparing a full budget request for release in May; so far has said he wants to leave entitlement programs untouched. Congressional Democrats have expressed support for Trump’s campaign promises to rebuild crumbling bridges and roads and upgrade the nation’s internet and electrical grid. But they’re the minority in both chambers; Republicans are running the show. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has expressed doubts about a big government infrastructure spending plan. Trump’s budget director, Representative Mick Mulvaney, who pushed for ambitious cuts in government spending while in Congress, could reassure his fellow Republicans that Trump will take their deficit concerns seriously.