Recurring Reports
Below are the recurring reports we've published since 2009. These papers summarize and analyze the most important regular federal budget releases and reports.
Analysis of CBO's Budget and Economic Outlook
The Congressional Budget Office's Budget and Economic Outlook projects trends for spending and revenue for the next ten years. All legislation is estimated as to how it would change these projections.
Jan 2025 | June 2024 | Feb 2024 | May 2023 | Feb 2023 | May 2022 | July 2021 | Feb 2021 | Sept 2020 | March 2020 | Jan 2020 | Aug 2019 | May 2019 | Jan 2019 | April 2018 | June 2017 | Jan 2017 | Aug 2016 | March 2016 | Jan 2016 | Aug 2015 | March 2015 | Jan 2015 | Aug 2014 | April 2014 | Feb 2014 | May 2013 | Feb 2013 | Aug 2012 | March 2012 | Jan 2012 | Aug 2011 | Jan 2011 | Aug 2010 | Jan 2010
CBO's Long-Term Budget Outlook
The Congressional Budget Office takes a longer view, focusing on budget trends over the next 25 or 75 years.
March 2025 | March 2024 | June 2023 | July 2022 | March 2021 | Sept 2020 | June 2019 | June 2018 | March 2017 | July 2016 | June 2015 | July 2014 | Sept 2013 | June 2012 | June 2011 | July 2010 | June 2009
Social Security Trustees' Report
The Social Security Trustees release an annual report on the health of the Social Security trust funds.
June 2025 | May 2024 | March 2023 | June 2022 | Aug 2021 | April 2020 | April 2019 | June 2018 | July 2017 | June 2016 | July 2015 | July 2014 | May 2013 | April 2012 | May 2011 | Aug 2010 | May 2009
Medicare Trustees' Report
The Medicare Trustees release an annual report on the health of the Medicare trust funds.
June 2025 | May 2024 | March 2023 | June 2022 | Aug 2021 | April 2020 | April 2019 | June 2018
Analysis of the President's Budget
Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 | FY 2014 | FY 2013 | FY 2012 | FY 2011 | FY 2010
CBO Analysis of the President's Budget
Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 | FY 2014 | FY 2013 | FY 2012 | FY 2011 | FY 2010
Other Helpful Items
Appropriations are annual decisions made by Congress about how the federal government spends some of its money. In general, the appropriations process addresses the discretionary portion of the budget – spending ranging from national defense to food safety to education to federal employee salaries, but excludes mandatory spending, such as Medicare and Social Security, which is spent automatically according to formulas.
Reconciliation is a special legislative process created as part of the Budget Act of 1974. It is intended to help lawmakers make the tax and mandatory spending changes necessary to meet the levels proposed in the congressional budget resolution. Our 101 provides the answers to questions such as "how do reconciliation instructions work?" or "what is the Byrd rule?"
A Short Primer on the Congressional Budget Office
This blog seeks to explain a few basic questions about CBO, its origin, why it's a vital part of the budget process, and how it goes about scoring legislation and forecasting budget and economic outcomes.
Playing By the (Budget) Rules: Understanding and Preventing Budget Gimmicks
In this paper we discuss 20 types of budget gimmicks, describe how they have been used in the past, and offer suggestions to limit or prohibit their future use.
The Tax Break-Down analyzes and review tax breaks under discussion as part of tax reform.
Q&A: Gross Debt Versus Debt Held by the Public
This explainer lays out everything you need to know about the different measures of debt and what they mean for the government's fiscal situation.
Government Shutdowns Q&A: Everything You Should Know
As we’ve learned to expect, Congress seems to be waiting until the last minute to address several important fiscal priorities If lawmakers do not pass legislation to fund federal programs by the time their funding lapses, the federal government will shut down.
Q&A: Everything You Should Know About the Debt Ceiling
One issue that Congress frequently addresses is the debt ceiling, which must be raised from time to time when either the overall limit is reached or a suspension has ended. The Treasury Department often uses accounting tools at their disposal, called “extraordinary measures,” to avoid defaulting on the government’s obligations during the periods in which Congress has not raised or suspended the debt ceiling. However, these measures can only hold off action for a few months at a time, after which Congress and the President must sign some sort of debt ceiling relief or otherwise face default.
While failing to increase the debt ceiling would be dangerous and self-defeating, it would also be a mistake not to use this opportunity to address the country’s mounting debt burden. In 2011, President Obama and leaders of both chambers of Congress engaged in high-level negotiations in the hopes of agreeing on a deficit reduction package to attach to any debt ceiling increase.