Biden Pressed About Potentially Missing Budget Deadline For Third Year

Members of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) have demanded answers from President Joe Biden about whether his administration plans to meet the deadline for submitting the presidential budget request to Congress next week — pointing out that the U.S. is expected to hit its current debt limit soon.

In a letter, which was led by RSC Chairman Kevin Hern (R-OK) and RSC Budget and Spending Task Force Chairman Ben Cline (R-VA), the Republicans pressed Biden on whether he plans to miss the deadline for the third consecutive year and requests answers as to “why.”

“We write to express our concerns regarding reports that your administration may miss the statutory deadline for submitting a Presidential Budget to Congress for the third year in a row and has no intent to offer a balanced budget,” the letter read. “As the deadline rapidly approaches for you to submit your Presidential Budget, we ask that you do your job so that we in Congress can begin ours.”

Title III of the Congressional Budget Act establishes a specific timetable for the congressional budget process, which requires the Biden administration to submit their budget request to Congress by the first Monday in February — meaning February 6.

If the president once again fails to submit his budget request on time, this would be the third year in a row of failing to abide by the law.

“The American people have spoken and made it abundantly clear that the United States must no longer be governed in a state of crisis or brinkmanship,” the letter read. “They expect their duly elected leaders to take the initiative to ensure that the vital functions of government are managed responsibly and in a timely manner.”

The Republican Study Committee also submitted a list of questions for the Biden administration to answer regarding the potential delay.

“Will your administration submit a budget by the statutory deadline? If not, when does your administration plan to submit a budget to Congress?” the first question read.

“Will your administration’s budget balance in the ten-year budget window? If not, do you not believe the American public deserves a responsible, balanced budget, that does not rely on tax hikes?” the second question read.

“Why is your administration unable to meet this annual budget proposal obligation?” the final question read.

“The urgency of our Nation’s fiscal crisis is unprecedented. It is imperative that we move quickly to address skyrocketing inflation, a crippling $31.5 trillion in national debt, and the impending insolvency of our Nation’s major trust funds,” the letter continued.

Alongside Hern and Cline, additional House Republicans on the RSC Budget and Spending Task Force members signed onto the letter — including Reps. Bob Good (R-VA), Roger Williams (R-TX), August Pfluger (R-TX), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Tom Tiffany (R-WI), Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Michael Cloud (R-TX), Josh Brecheen (R-OK), Rich McCormick (R-GA), Pat Fallon (R-TX) and Eric Burlison (R-MO).

Republicans have also demanded that Biden negotiate regarding the debt ceiling, but the president refuses to discuss reducing wasteful spending and instead wants House Republicans to sign on to an increase in the debt ceiling without changing anything else.

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