The Public Budget Evolved Over Time The Federal Budget And H

The Public Budget Evolved Over Time The Federal Budget And How It Ge

The public budget has a long and complex history that reflects the evolving economic, political, and social priorities of the United States. Its development has been shaped by economic crises, wars, policy changes, and shifts in governance structures. Understanding the history of the public budget provides essential context for analyzing current budget processes and decisions, especially as they relate to federal, state, and local agency funding.

Public Budget

The concept of public budgeting in the United States dates back to the colonial period, where local colonial assemblies allocated resources for defense and infrastructure. However, the modern public budget system began to take shape in the early 20th century with the Progressive Era reforms, which aimed to make government spending more transparent and accountable. The Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 was a significant milestone, establishing the presidential budget process and the General Accounting Office, setting the foundation for centralized budget planning and control (Kettl, 2015). This legislation marked a shift towards a more systematic and comprehensive approach to public finance, emphasizing the importance of budgetary discipline and fiscal responsibility.

Throughout the mid-20th century, the federal budget grew in scope and complexity, reflecting the expansion of government programs amid the Great Depression, World War II, and subsequent social welfare initiatives. The Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 introduced further reforms, creating the Congressional Budget Office and establishing the Congressional Budget Committees to enhance the legislative branch's role in budgeting. These historical developments demonstrate the ongoing adaptation of the budget process to meet changing governance needs, economic conditions, and policy priorities (Mikesell, 2018).

Submission Process

The federal budget submission process is a structured and multi-stage procedure that begins with the President's budget proposal, which is submitted to Congress annually, typically in February. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) coordinates the preparation of the budget, which involves executive agencies submitting their funding requests based on their priorities and needs (U.S. Government Publishing Office, 2022). The President reviews these submissions and consolidates them into an integrated budget proposal that reflects the administration's policy objectives.

Following the submission, Congress reviews the President’s budget through various committees, including the House and Senate Budget Committees and the Appropriations Committees. These bodies hold hearings, amend, and pass budget resolutions that guide subsequent appropriations and spending. The process culminates in the enactment of appropriations bills that allocate funds to specific agencies and programs. This legislative process ensures that the budget aligns with national priorities while also providing checks and balances in government spending (Wanncke & Carpenter, 2020).

Mission

For this analysis, the selected federal agency is the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The HHS's mission is to enhance the health and well-being of Americans by providing effective health and human services and fostering advances in medicine, public health, and social services (HHS, 2023). The agency’s budget supports this mission by funding various programs including Medicaid, health research, disease prevention, and social services. The budget allocation directly influences the agency’s ability to fulfill its mission, as sufficient funding ensures the implementation and expansion of essential health programs.

The department’s budget aligns with its mission by prioritizing areas like medical research through the National Institutes of Health and public health initiatives via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When the budget is adequate, HHS can expand existing programs, launch new initiatives, and respond to emerging health crises effectively. Conversely, budget constraints can limit program scope, delay research projects, and hinder the department’s capacity to serve vulnerable populations (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2021).

Policy

The HHS budget significantly influences the department’s policy decisions. Funding levels determine the scope, scale, and focus of programs, shaping the department’s strategic priorities. For example, increased funding for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions enabled expanded access to healthcare coverage and efforts to reduce health disparities. Conversely, budget reductions often lead to policy shifts, like scaled-back outreach efforts or program eliminations, which can impact public health outcomes.

Budgetary changes also impact policy innovation; sufficient funding allows HHS to pilot new health initiatives and implement evidence-based strategies. Conversely, funding shortages may force policy adjustments that prioritize essential services, potentially compromising long-term health improvements (Bertko & Ernstoff, 2022). Over the past decade, the HHS budget has fluctuated, often reflecting political priorities and public health crises such as the opioid epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic. These shifts underscore the interconnectedness between funding levels and policy directions within the department.

Budget Changes

Over the last ten years, the budget of the Department of Health and Human Services has experienced notable changes. During this period, the budget generally increased to accommodate growing healthcare needs, expanding programs, and response to emergent public health crises. For instance, the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant funding boosts to support testing, vaccination, and healthcare infrastructure (Lavarreda & White, 2021).

Between 2013 and 2023, the HHS budget saw a compound annual growth rate of approximately 3%, with peaks during pandemic relief efforts. The increase reflects prioritization of health and social services, recognition of health disparities, and ongoing investments in biomedical research. However, fluctuations occur due to political changes, budget negotiations, and shifting policy priorities, which impact the stability and predictability of funding for health programs (Mansfield et al., 2020). The evolving budget landscape influences the department’s capacity to meet national health objectives and adapt to changing public health needs.

References

References

  • Bertko, J., & Ernstoff, L. (2022). Health Policy and Budgeting: Impact of Funding on Public Health Initiatives. Journal of Public Health Policy, 43(2), 234–251.
  • HHS. (2023). About the Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.hhs.gov/about/
  • Kaiser Family Foundation. (2021). The Impact of Budget Changes on Health Programs. https://www.kff.org/
  • Kettl, D. F. (2015). The Transformation of the American Public Budgeting System. Public Administration Review, 75(4), 548–559.
  • Lavarreda, S. A., & White, K. (2021). COVID-19 and Federal Funding for Public Health. Health Affairs, 40(6), 872–880.
  • Mansfield, C., et al. (2020). Analyzing Trends in Federal Health Budgets. Health Policy and Planning, 36(7), 987–998.
  • Mikesell, J. L. (2018). Fiscal Administration: Analysis and Applications for the Public Sector. Routledge.
  • U.S. Government Publishing Office. (2022). The Federal Budget Process. https://www.govinfo.gov/
  • Wanncke, C., & Carpenter, D. (2020). Congressional Budgeting and Fiscal Policy. Public Budgeting & Finance, 40(1), 3–22.

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