The Budget Message of the President

To The Congress of The United States:

Over the past 3 years, my Administration has worked tirelessly to restore America's economic strength. We have ended the war on American workers and stopped the assault on American industry, launching an economic boom the likes of which we have never seen before.

While our incredible economic turnaround came as a shock to most career politicians in Washington, it is no surprise to millions of hard-working families across the Nation. Their natural talent, ingenuity, and strength simply needed an opportunity to flourish, free from the massive regulations and taxes heaped upon them by their Government.

As my Administration continues to remove these burdens, our economy continues to surpass expectations. We are growing faster than the experts thought possible. The unemployment rate is at 3.5 percent, the lowest it has been in 50 years. And more Americans are working today than at any point in our history.

Today's tremendous job market is leading employers to realize the vast potential of many individuals they previously overlooked. Over the past 3 years, the employment rate of our prime-age workers has skyrocketed, and wages are growing the fastest for historically disadvantaged workers, reversing trends under the previous administration.

With this 2021 Budget, my Administration is placing a special focus on these forgotten Americans, because every individual deserves to experience the dignity that comes through work. The truth is, jobs do not just provide paychecks: they give people purpose; allow them to engage with their communities; and help them reach their true potential. As we have shown, the right policies offer Americans paths to independence rather than trapping them in reliance on Government programs.

The era of putting American workers second and doubling down on the failed policies of the past is over. While job creation during my Presidency has surpassed expectations, the credit belongs to the job creators and workers who risk everything and devote themselves to building a better future for themselves, their families, and their Nation. The Federal Government does not create jobs; hardworking Americans create jobs. My Administration's role is to follow our foundational policy pillars and allow our job creators and workers to do what they do best.

To ensure this economic strength continues, I have called on the Government to reduce wasteful, unnecessary spending, and to fix mismanagement and redundancy across agencies. This includes prioritizing spending for programs that are a core function of the United States Government.

As we enter the 2020's, our Nation confronts new challenges and opportunities. The 21st century requires us to focus on great power rivals; prioritize artificial intelligence, 5G, and industries of the future; and to protect our research and environment from foreign government influence. To meet these challenges and seize these opportunities, we must shift the Government out of its old and outdated ways. This will require each and every Government agency to do more to prepare for the demands of tomorrow.

The following are key priorities of my Administration:

Better Trade Deals. Renegotiated or new trade deals with Canada and Mexico, China, South Korea, and Japan are modernizing international trade and creating freer, fairer, and more reciprocal trade between the United States and our largest economic partners. These deals will enable our country's manufacturing renaissance to continue. Trade deals are in development with the United Kingdom and the European Union, as well as other countries that desire access to the coveted American market. These deals will expand American markets abroad and keep businesses here in America, which means keeping jobs here at home.

Preserving Peace through Strength. To sustain security at home and promote American interests abroad, my Administration has rebuilt the military. A strong military, fully equipped and integrated with our allies and all our instruments of power, enables our Nation to deter war, preserve peace, and, if necessary, defeat aggression against the United States and her people. To that end, my Budget requests $740.5 billion for national defense.

Overcoming the Opioid Crisis. Because of my Administration's aggressive tactics to fight over-prescription of opioids, promote effective treatment for addiction, and secure the border, we are turning the tide of the opioid crisis. Since my term began, we have seen a more than 30 percent decrease in the total amount of opioids prescribed, and deaths from drug overdose fell for the first time in nearly 30 years in 2018.

Failure is not an option when it comes to helping people avoid the pain, suffering, and death caused by addiction. Work must play an integral role in any solution. Research shows that holding a job is a key factor in helping people overcome drug addiction. For the duration of my Presidency, I will continue to promote policies that will beat back this deadly crisis and promote job training and employment opportunities for Americans who are rebuilding their lives after struggling with addiction.

Regulation Relief. Many pundits and Washington insiders laughed when I promised to cut two regulations for every new regulation. They were correct that two-for-one was the wrong goal. Instead, the Federal Government has cut more than seven regulations for every significant new regulation. After only 3 years, my Administration has cut a historic number of regulations, and we have put the brakes on an endless assault of new, costly actions by Federal agencies.

Our commitment to regulatory reform stems from the simple truth that the vast majority of business owners want to do the right thing, comply with the law, and treat their workers fairly. The Federal Government ignored this reality for far too long and abused its authority to go after businesses, especially small businesses and entrepreneurs, in ways that can only be described as arbitrary and abusive.

At the same time, we are maintaining America's world-class standards of environmental protection. Emissions of all criteria pollutants dropped between 2016 and 2018. The United States environmental record is one of the strongest in the world and continues to have some of the cleanest air and water in the world.

American Energy Independence. American energy powers our cities and towns, empowers innovators, drives our economy, and protects our sovereignty. Energy companies across the world are ready to build in our Nation, and permitting reform that cuts red tape shows that we welcome their investments. My Administration continues to support growth in the energy sector by removing unnecessary regulations and unleashing America's vast natural and human resources. Through these actions, the United States is now on track to be a net exporter of crude oil and natural gas for all of 2020, a major milestone not achieved in nearly 70 years. In addition to being the world's largest natural gas producer, we also became the world's top crude oil producer in 2018.

The records of our energy boom are widespread. Energy production has created jobs in areas of the United States where job opportunities were scarce. It also provides enormous benefits to families across the Nation by lowering energy prices. And it further distances us from geopolitical foes who wish to cause us harm. More jobs, lower costs, and American dominance—these are predictable results of our pro-energy policies.

******

Today, there is hope throughout America. There is optimism that was not here before 63 million Americans asked me to work for them and drain the swamp. For decades, Washington elites told us that Americans had no choice but to accept stagnation, decay, and decline.

We proved them wrong. Our economy is strong once more, and America's role as leader of the Free World has been restored.

America is the single greatest country in the world. We must never believe for one moment that this great Nation is destined for a diminished future. When we take hold of our freedom, and take our destiny in our hands, we choose to reject a future of American decline. My 2021 Budget sets the course for a future of continued American dominance and prosperity.

DONALD J. TRUMP

The White House,

February 10, 2020.