United States President Donald Trump is set to reveal his 2020 fiscal budget request to members of Congress on Monday. The White House budget office explains the president’s budget includes spending cuts valued at $2.7 trillion.
The 2020 budget from the White House is the first budget offering since Congress became divided along party lines last January. It is expected the budget will be fiercely opposed by the House, which is now under Democratic control.
The spending plan proposed by the president will highlight many of the issues that are important to him. These issues include increasing security at the border and addressing the opioid crises that has devastated many parts of America.
Russ Vought, director for the Office of Budget and Management, says the president has concentrated budgetary efforts on fiscal responsibility and reigning in the irresponsible spending that has caused so many problems in Washington.
Vought went on to say that the president’s 2020 budget proposal will balance in 15 years, put a halt to frivolous spending, and secure the financial future for the next generation of Americans.
The national debt currently stands at a record high of $22 trillion and has risen by $2 trillion since President Trump has been in office. The president aims to effect a five percent decrease in discretionary nondefense spending and feels the decrease in spending will help the budget remain within healthy fiscal limits.
The president has been involved in a high-profile battle with Congress over money to build a security wall along the southern border America shares with Mexico. The president insists the wall is needed to address the ‘crisis’ at the southern border. The dispute resulted in a 35-day government work stoppage in December and January. The issue is likely to become relevant again with the request for $8.6 billion to build the border wall that is included with the president’s budget proposal.
In response to the opioid crisis, President Trump calls for increased investments in preventive measures, research, treatment options, and recovery.
The president’s budget also calls for institutions of higher education to share in the financial burden associated with federal loans for students.
The president is also requesting a ten percent increase in spending for armed forces veterans. This increase will bring annual spending on veteran affairs to $80 billion.
The entirety of the president’s 2020 budget request will be made available to the public on Monday.
