Developments in Securities Regulation, Corporate Governance, Capital Markets, M&A and Other Topics of Interest. MORE

The Trump administration has published its budgetary Blueprint. The Blueprint notes the 2018 Budget is being unveiled sequentially in that the Blueprint provides details only on discretionary funding proposals. The full Budget will be released later this spring and will include the administration’s specific mandatory and tax proposals, as well as a full fiscal path.

The Blueprint does not provide details for the SEC’s or the CFTC’s budget.

According to the Trump administration, the Blueprint eliminates and reduces hundreds of programs and focuses funding to redefine what the administration believes is the proper role of the Federal Government.

The Budget proposes to eliminate funding for independent agencies, including: the African Development Foundation; the Appalachian Regional Commission; the Chemical Safety Board; the Corporation for National and Community Service; the Corporation for Public Broadcasting; the Delta Regional Authority; the Denali Commission; the Institute of Museum and Library Services; the Inter-American Foundation; the U.S. Trade and Development Agency; the Legal Services Corporation; the National Endowment for the Arts; the National Endowment for the Humanities; the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation; the Northern Border Regional Commission; the Overseas Private Investment Corporation; the United States Institute of Peace; the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness; and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

According to the Blueprint, the administration will take action to ensure that by 2020 it will be able to say the following:

  • Federal agencies are managing programs and delivering critical services more effectively.
  • Federal agencies are devoting a greater percentage of taxpayer dollars to mission achievement rather than costly, unproductive compliance activities.
  • Federal agencies are more effective and efficient in supporting program outcomes.
  • Agencies have been held accountable for improving performance.