Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies on Zero-Base Budgeting in the Executive Branch

Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

At my request, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget has issued guidelines about the use of zero-based budgeting in the Executive Branch.

This is a new system, and I recognize that your staff may need advice about how to interpret and apply it. Wherever possible, I want you to rely on OMB for information about this system, rather than turning to outside commercial consultants. I have asked the OMB to designate members of the program and budget staff as zero-based budgeting representatives. They will give you the information you need about establishing the process and using it effectively.

Within your own office, I ask that you name one or two members of the budget staff to serve a similar function as sources of information on the zero-based budgeting system. This approach will help ensure that zero-based budgeting is applied uniformly throughout the Executive Branch and that we save the wasted effort and unnecessary cost of relying on consultants.

JIMMY CARTER