Its examiners review every agency's budget request line by line before the President's budget goes to Congress each February. Through its OIRA office it also clears every major federal regulation before publication, a checkpoint over the entire executive branch.
Open the interactive page for OMB →Created byBudget and Accounting Act of 1921 created the Bureau of the Budget (in Treasury; moved to EOP by Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1939); redesignated the Office of Management and Budget by Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1970, implemented by Exec. Order 11541
Head appointed31 U.S.C. § 502(a): Director appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; no fixed term. Deputy Director also PAS (31 U.S.C. § 502(b)) (PAS)
Removal standardno statutory protection — at will; 31 U.S.C. § 502 specifies no term or removal standard
Funded underappropriated — Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, Executive Office of the President title (line item for OMB salaries and expenses)
Congressional oversightHouse Committee on Oversight and Government Reform · Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Inspector generalnone — EOP components are outside Inspector General Act coverage (5 U.S.C. ch. 4); GAO audits; bills to create an EOP IG introduced but not enacted
Judicial reviewBudget prep, circulars, and OIRA review are generally not final agency action under the APA; apportionment decisions challenged via APA § 702 and Impoundment Control Act (2 U.S.C. §§ 681-688, GAO reporting role); OMB is an 'agency' subject to FOIA
Comment on rules under interagency review at reginfo.gov; vote for President, who directs OMB; ask Congress to override an OMB position by writing spending directives into law.