The Trump administration plans to roll out its fiscal year 2018 budget request in late May, according to the White House budget chief.

Mick Mulvaney, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, mentioned the timeline at a May 1 press briefing on the newly negotiated FY 2017 omnibus appropriations bill, which includes funding for the Department of Defense and other agencies (Defense Daily, May 1, 2018). The full House and Senate are expected to vote on the omnibus this week.

Mick Mulvaney
Mick Mulvaney

If the White House sends its FY 2018 request to Congress the week of May 22, the House Armed Services Committee expects to hold subcommittee markups on the FY 2018 defense authorization bill by mid- to late-June and a full committee markup before the July 4 congressional recess. Floor consideration would occur in July.

In a statement, the Pentagon urged lawmakers to complete their work on the FY 2018 budget before Oct. 1 to avoid the need for another continuing resolution (CR). The federal government has been operating under CRs since FY 2017 began seven months ago.

“Looking ahead, we are eager to work with Congress to ensure that budget stability is achieved in the future, a key aspect of which will be to not endure another CR in October,” the Pentagon said.