Horizontal cuts in government ministries: NIS 285 million from education, NIS 150 million from health
The government is expected to approve on Sunday a horizontal cut of approximately NIS 2.6 billion in ministry budgets, excluding the Defense Ministry. The cut, amounting to about 5% per ministry, is intended for urgent defense procurement. Main cuts: NIS 285 million from education, NIS 225 million from the National Security Ministry, NIS 150 million from health, and NIS 140 million from welfare. The professional echelon at the Treasury recommended cutting coalition funds instead, but the political echelon rejected the recommendation.
The government will be asked to approve on Sunday a horizontal cut in the budgets of all government ministries, totaling approximately NIS 2.6 billion, which is about 5% of each ministry's budget. The cut applies to all ministries except the Defense Ministry, which was exempted. The funds are intended for urgent defense procurement, by agreement between the Treasury and Defense ministries. The main cuts: NIS 285 million from the Education Ministry, NIS 225 million from the National Security Ministry, NIS 150 million from the Health Ministry, and NIS 140 million from the Welfare Ministry. The professional echelon at the Treasury recommended that ministers cut coalition funds instead of a horizontal cut affecting every ministry, but the political echelon did not accept the recommendation. The article reports on the decision while noting the professional recommendation that was rejected, but does not elaborate on the long-term budgetary implications or the identity of the political factors that rejected the recommendation.