Question

What role do cabinet level agencies play in the budget making process

Answer 1

Each Cabinet-level agency must make budget estimations according to their needs and submit them to the President, in order to make possible for the Head of state to make the annual U.S. Federal Budget proposal and refer it to the Congress. In this first step, the President is helped by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Answer 2

Independent agencies are created by the Congress and then submitted to a funding process through budgetary and appropriations process. Some agencies fund themselves through fees passed by the industry it was created to regulate or through other collection methods. For example, the Federal Reserve funds itself through fees charged to the banks it is responsible for and the Postal Service which survives from the fees they charge for services or stamps for example. It is worth noting that agencies that need direct government budget have to submit a budget and expenses document in the year prior to the needed, submitting in 2018 their budget for 2019.