Memorandum: Requirements for the FY 2010 Budget Process

This memorandum from OMB Director Jim Nussle to agency and department heads outlines the George W. Bush administration’s plans for the development the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 budget focusing on a submission that will provide a complete current services budget baseline for an incoming administration.

Nussle directs agencies to wait until the new administration, or its transition team, is in place to complete the normal director’s review or “passback processes” with OMB. A current services baseline provides an estimate of costs to carry on existing programs and assumes no policy changes. This allows the president’s successor to assess current spending levels and make his or her own policy decisions in developing their initial budget proposal.

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