In a report next week, the Obama administration will increase its 10-year budget deficit projection to roughly $9 trillion, an increase of about $2 trillion from the previous projection, an official at the Office of Management and Budget told FOX News.
The 2010-2019 cumulative deficit projection replaces the administration's previous estimate of $7.108 trillion.
The official said the prolonged recession and the ensuing decline in federal revenue prompted a recalibration of the deficit numbers. The numbers also reflect a projection that post-recession economic growth may not be as robust as after previous recessions, the official said.
Budget projections are rarely static. As economic conditions change, so do the estimates.
The White House also plans to announce this year's federal deficit will end up about $262 billion less than officials had predicted earlier this year -- in part because the administration has provided less aid than expected to Wall Street.
The federal deficit this year will total $1.58 trillion, a senior White House official told the Associated Press late Wednesday. That's three times more red ink than last year. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the report before its release next Tuesday while President Obama will be on vacation in Massachusetts.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office is expected to release its mid-session review the same day. It estimated in June a one-year deficit of $1.825 trillion.
The report for the budget year that ends Sept. 30 also will predict Washington to spend $3.653 trillion this year, the official said. Revenue, however, would reach only $2.074 trillion.
"Whether it's $1.6 trillion or $1.8 trillion, it's pretty bad," said Robert Bixby, executive director of the bipartisan fiscal watchdog The Concord Coalition. "I hope no one tries to spin that as good news."
The midsummer report was supposed to have been released in mid-July, but was delayed, leading to speculation the White House was delaying the bad news until Congress left on an August recess. Other administrations delayed releasing their versions of this report during their first year.
The administration earlier this year predicted that unemployment would peak at about 9 percent without a big stimulus package and 8 percent with one. Congress did pass a $787 billion two-year stimulus measure, yet unemployment soared to 9.4 percent in July and appears headed for double digits. Most of that stimulus will occur in the coming fiscal year.
While Obama's appointing Czars, forming his shadow government - I wish he'd appoint a Czar of thriftiness. At the rate he's going, our kids, grand kids, and great grans will inherit nothing but debt.
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It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union.... Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less. ~Susan B. Anthony