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U.S. Budget and Government Spending: Action on the Proposed Budget

Resources on the U.S. Budget and Federal spending.

President's Proposed Budget Documents

The below are the documents submitted by the President to Congress and which Congress spends the next several months legislating over. DREF is the Doe Reference Collection on the second floor of Doe Library.


Budget of the United States Government
The President's budget proposal based on estimates from the previous year's budget and requests from agencies, issued on the first Monday of February.

  • DREF HJ2051.A6  (Latest)
  • MAIN HJ2051.A6 (1936-)


Budget of the United States Goverment, Appendix
Includes much more detail than the Budget of the United States Government, including funding for each agency and office within the agency.

  • DREF HJ2051.A6 Appendix (Latest)
  • MAIN HJ2051.A6 Appendix (1963-)


Budget of the United States Government, Analytical Perspectives
Provides analyses on specified subject areas or provides other significant presentations of budget data that place the budget in perspective.

  • DREF HJ2051.A5957 (Latest)
  • MAIN HJ2051.A5957 (1994/95-)


Budget of the United States Government, Historical Tables
Provides historical information on various appropriations and expenditures with some tables going back to the 1920's.

  • DREF HJ2051.A5956 (Latest)
  • MAIN HJ2051.A5956, (1985/86-1989/90, 1993/94-2005/06-)


Economic Report of the President
Reports federal budget receipts, outlays, surpluses and deficits. Some tables go back to 1929.

  • DREF HC106.5.A28 (Latest)
  • MAIN HC106.5.A28 (1950-)

Congressional Action on the Proposed Budget

The following links will help you track current budget bills (aka appropriations) through Congress.

Current Status of Appropriations Bills
From the Library of Congress, shows the current status as the appropriations bill(s) moves through Congress, from 2011-present. Older bills (1998 to present) can be accessed using this link..

Appropriations Bills
Maintained by the Senate Library, legislative histories of Appropriations Bills, from 1986-present.  Older legislative histories of appropriations bills, including their hearings, reports and debates, can be searched in the database Proquest Legislative Insight (UCB Only). 

Congressional Publications on the Budget

After the President submits the documents, Congress produces its own analysis and produces the below series of reports. 


Budget and Economic Outlook (title varies)
From the Congressional Budget Office, a report on the state of the economy and the president' proposed budget


Budget Options
From the Congressional Budget Office, presents alternate fiscal strategies and estimates of tax expenditures.


An Analysis of the President's Budgetary Proposals for Fiscal Year
From the Congressional Budget Office, evaluates the economic assumptions and budget estimates and presents possible alternative estimates.

  • DREF HJ2051.U54a (Latest)
  • MAIN HJ2051.U54a (1978/79-1980/81, 1982/83-1992/93, 1994/95-1995/96, 1997/98-1999/2000, 2001/02-)