Budgeting is Policy, or How Government is like 'The Matrix' with Teri Gullo and Karl Maschino

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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