Budgeting for the Future
T-AFMD-91-1: Published: Apr 12, 1991. Publicly Released: Apr 12, 1991.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
GAO discussed: (1) the impact of current budget decisions on the future economic well-being of the United States; and (2) actions the federal government could take to improve the long-term economic outlook. GAO noted that: (1) federal deficits drained private savings that could be devoted to new plants, equipment, and other productive private investments; (2) the current budget provided inadequate highway, education, research, and other public investment funding; and (3) by the end of fiscal year 1991, the federal debt was expected to reach $3.6 trillion, requiring annual interest payments of almost $300 billion. GAO also noted that the federal government should: (1) take additional steps to reduce the federal budget deficit to increase national investment; (2) assess long-term economic effects of budget systems and integrate that information into the decisionmaking and enforcement system; (3) establish a unified budget that reflects the government's total financial operations, including general, trust, and enterprise fund components subdivided to distinguish between operating and capital expenditures; (4) fully accrue federal civilian employee retirement and other employee benefit plan liabilities; (5) recognize federal financial exposure; (6) consider future costs resulting from federal government responsibilities in such areas as the cleanup of nuclear weapons facilities; (7) reevaluate government dependence on the baseline in analyzing whether budget policies achieved their desired results in the outyears; and (8) establish a high-level, bipartisan budget study commission to ensure the improvement of federal budgeting.
Jun 28, 2018
U.S. Postal Service:
Projected Capital Spending and Processes for Addressing Uncertainties and RisksGAO-18-515: Published: Jun 28, 2018. Publicly Released: Jun 28, 2018.
Jun 21, 2018
-
The Nation's Fiscal Health:
Action Is Needed to Address the Federal Government's Fiscal FutureGAO-18-299SP: Published: Jun 21, 2018. Publicly Released: Jun 21, 2018.
Apr 3, 2018
-
Defense Budget:
Actions Needed to Improve the Management of Foreign Currency FundsGAO-18-221: Published: Apr 3, 2018. Publicly Released: Apr 3, 2018.
Feb 6, 2018
-
Budget Issues:
Continuing Resolutions and Other Budget Uncertainties Present Management ChallengesGAO-18-368T: Published: Feb 6, 2018. Publicly Released: Feb 6, 2018.
Oct 12, 2017
-
Public Relations Spending:
Selected Agencies' Activities Supported by Contracts and Public Affairs StaffGAO-17-711: Published: Sep 12, 2017. Publicly Released: Oct 12, 2017.
Oct 2, 2017
-
U.S. Territories:
Public Debt OutlookGAO-18-160: Published: Oct 2, 2017. Publicly Released: Oct 2, 2017.
Sep 20, 2017
-
Budget Issues:
Budget Uncertainty and Disruptions Affect Timing of Agency SpendingGAO-17-807T: Published: Sep 20, 2017. Publicly Released: Sep 20, 2017.
May 3, 2017
-
The Nation's Fiscal Health:
Action is Needed to Address the Federal Government's Fiscal FutureGAO-17-579T: Published: May 3, 2017. Publicly Released: May 3, 2017.
Jan 18, 2017
-
Overseas Contingency Operations:
OMB and DOD Should Revise the Criteria for Determining Eligible Costs and Identify the Costs Likely to Endure Long TermGAO-17-68: Published: Jan 18, 2017. Publicly Released: Jan 18, 2017.
Jan 17, 2017
-
The Nation's Fiscal Health:
Action is Needed to Address the Federal Government's Fiscal FutureGAO-17-237SP: Published: Jan 17, 2017. Publicly Released: Jan 17, 2017.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here
Explore our Key Issues on Budget and Spending
Explore our other Key Issues here
