CBO’s Waterfall Model for Projecting Discretionary Spending, April 2018
Interactive
CBO’s new interactive tool allows users to simulate the agency’s process for projecting discretionary budget authority and outlays for different types of spending over the course of 10 years.
The interactive waterfall model is a simplified version of a model used by CBO analysts to develop the agency's baseline projections of discretionary spending and cost estimates for legislation that authorizes discretionary spending. It is called a “waterfall” model because it allows the user to see how projections of outlays flow from each year's estimated budget authority. The model allows the user to simulate CBO’s process for projecting budget authority and outlays for different types of spending over the course of 10 years.
This model is designed to illustrate the methodology CBO uses to project discretionary spending. The budget authority and outlay data generated by the model do not constitute a CBO estimate.
CBO wants to hear about your experience using this interactive resource. Send your feedback to communications@cbo.gov.
