Host James-Christian Blockwood interviews Teri Gullo, former CBO Director of Budget Analysis, and Karl Maschino, former GAO Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, about why federal budget work matters amid scrutiny of spending, workforce cuts, and “DOGE”-style reforms.
They outline the normal OMB-agency-Congress budget timeline, emphasize GAO/CBO’s nonpartisan transparency and need to explain “the story behind the numbers,” discuss polarization blocking fiscal solutions as net interest costs reach over $1 trillion, and urge young public servants to see budgeting as policy and values.
Chapters:
01:11 Reform Cycle or Shock
03:09 Congress vs Executive Power
04:18 How Budgeting Works
07:20 Executing Enacted Budgets
08:30 Speaking Truth to Power
12:55 Fixing an Unsustainable Path?
15:42 Management Lessons Learned
20:49 Making Big Numbers Real
24:39 Advice for New Public Servants
Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by Lizzie Alwan and Matt Hampton and edited by Matt Hampton.
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