Budgeting is Policy, or How Government is like 'The Matrix' with Teri Gullo and Karl Maschino

Host James-Christian Blockwood interviews Teri Gullo, former CBO Director of Budget Analysis, and Karl Maschino, former GAO Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, about why federal budget work matters amid scrutiny of spending, workforce cuts, and “DOGE”-style reforms. They outline the normal OMB-agency-Congress budget timeline, emphasize GAO/CBO’s nonpartisan transparency and need to explain “the story behind the numbers,” discuss polarization blocking fiscal solutions as net interest costs reach over $1 trillion, and urge young public servants to see budgeting as policy and values. Chapters: 01:11 Reform Cycle or Shock 03:09 Congress vs Executive Power 04:18 How Budgeting Works 07:20 Executing Enacted Budgets 08:30 Speaking Truth to Power 12:55 Fixing an Unsustainable Path? 15:42 Management Lessons Learned 20:49 Making Big Numbers Real 24:39 Advice for New Public Servants Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by Lizzie Alwan and Matt Hampton and edited by Matt Hampton. Support the Podcast Today at: donate@napawash.org or 202-347-3190 Episode music: Hope by Mixaund | Music promoted by

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Budgeting is Policy, or How Government is like 'The Matrix' with Teri Gullo and Karl Maschino is an episode from Management Matters Podcast by National Academy of Public Administration.

This episode is 28:15 long.

This episode was published on Apr 20, 2026.

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