CBO Fact Sheet

CBO's mandate is to provide the Congress with:

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 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-68) provided the agency with $45.2 million in FY 2010 funding.

Workload

In fiscal year 2009, CBO issued 33 studies and reports, 9 briefs, 11 Monthly Budget Reviews, 38 letters, 8 presentations, and 5 background papers--along with 2 other publications and numerous supplemental data. CBO also testified before the Congress 17 times on a variety of issues. In calendar year 2009, CBO completed approximately 480 federal cost estimates as well as about 420 estimates of the impact of legislation on state and local governments, including the identification of any unfunded mandates contained in such legislation, and about 420 estimates of the impact of any 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

Douglas W. Elmendorf is CBO's Director. He has been appointed to serve from January 22, 2009, to January 3, 2011, completing the most recent four-year term of office.

Staffing

CBO currently employs about 250 people. The agency is composed primarily of economists and public policy analysts. About three-quarters of its professional staff hold advanced degrees, mostly in economics or public policy.