CBO Fact Sheet

CBO's mandate is to provide the Congress with:

• Objective, nonpartisan, and timely analyses to aid in economic and budgetary decisions on the wide array of programs covered by the federal budget and
  
  
• The information and estimates required for the Congressional budget process.

Location

The Congressional Budget Office is located on the fourth floor of the Ford House Office Building in Washington, D.C. The building is served by the blue and orange lines of the Washington Metrorail system; the Federal Center SW Metrorail station is across from the Third Street side of the building.
 

Establishment

CBO was founded on July 12, 1974, with the enactment of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act (P.L. 93-344). The agency began operating on February 24, 1975, with the appointment of Alice Rivlin as the first director.
 

Funding

The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009 (P.L. 110-329) provided continuing appropriations to CBO at the fiscal year 2008 funding level until March 6, 2009. CBO received $37.3 million in fiscal year 2008 funding.
 

Workload

In fiscal year 2008, CBO issued 38 studies and reports, 3 briefs, 12 Monthly Budget Reviews, 29 letters, 23 presentations, and 2 background papers--along with 7 other publications and numerous supplemental data. CBO also testified before the Congress 31 times on a variety of issues. In calendar year 2007, CBO completed approximately 750 formal federal cost estimates as well as approximately 700 estimates of the impact of unfunded mandates on state and local governments and about 700 estimates of the impact of unfunded mandates on the private sector.

Finally, CBO provides up-to-date data on its Web site, including current budget and economic projections and information on the status of discretionary appropriations.
 

Appointment of the Director

The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate jointly appoint the CBO Director, after considering recommendations from the two budget committees. The term of office is four years, with no limit on the number of terms a Director may serve. Either House of Congress, however, may remove the Director by resolution. At the expiration of a term of office, the person serving as Director may continue in the position until his or her successor is appointed.
 

Director

Robert A. Sunshine, CBO's Deputy Director, is currently also serving in the capacity of Acting Director.
 

Staffing

CBO currently employs about 230 people. The agency is composed primarily of economists and public policy analysts. About 70 percent of its professional staff hold advanced degrees in economics or public policy.