In Washington, you can’t go too long in cocktail party banalities without people asking “So…what do you do?”

It wasn’t too long ago that my response, “I’m a budget geek”, used to elicit a half-hearted, “Oh. Great.”, as their eyes glazed over, scanning the crowd looking for the next target. But that’s beginning to change.

In the midst of $14 trillion debt, annual appropriations dysfunction and debt ceiling drama, Washington’s caste system has been turned on its head in some ways, as the financial crises has ushered in this brave new world, for better or worse: the “Golden Age of the Budgeteer”.

I really wish our time could have come under better circumstances. But with leadership deadlocked and current financial planning under enormous pressures, the expertise needed to understand the budget cycle from budget formulation to execution, identify discretionary and mandatory savings, translate esoteric budget-speak – unobligated funds, CBO versus OMB scorekeeping, primary versus actual balance – has never been greater. That expertise in fact has become a kind of currency in itself as Congress and the President negotiate the budget crisis du jour.

Political kabuki posturing aside, the discussion regarding our nation’s fiscal path is a serious one and the skills of government budget analysts and program examiners at all levels are the lynchpin of any legitimate budget deal.

Politics and budgets are often one in the same; they serve as blueprints for priorities. But, as Washington’s leaders search for real fiscal solutions, it’s the steady green eyeshades that will drive the discussion. Budget geeks rule.

Here are a few inside observations during the current deficit reduction debates:

Budgeting isn’t just an academic exercise – In the frantic search to find savings, it’s easy to view programs just through the lens of an Excel spreadsheet – i.e. calculations showing a program has grown by X% above inflation over a 10 year period (or 12 years now per the President’s new standard). The solution for many agencies and congressional staff has been to “sausage-cut” and take hair-line cuts across the board. But this slash-and-burn approach does our ultimate “clients”, the public, a disservice. A tailored approach to make any reductions with no or minimal service and quality disruption is what’s needed.

Budget decisions depend on rigorous program performance management. I do respect the President’s management team under the leadership of Jeff Zients. Unfortunately, the current White House’s performance management system has been stymied under budget and program structure delays as they’ve tried to roll out the performance.gov system to the public and steer away from anything Bush 43-related. In reaction to a perception that the prior administration was too heavy-handed and compliance-focused with the President’s Management Agenda, the OMB leadership team swung to the other extreme, allowing agencies to build their own goals and metrics and then monitor their own performance. Fox guarding the hen house?

Congress and executive agencies are talking past one another. I’ve heard more and more appropriators and Hill budget staff complain that agencies aren’t talking and sharing information. And, I get it. The separation of powers. The House is not on the same political team as the White House. It’s easy to play in our separate sandboxes. But, good decisions can only be made with good data. If agencies want their programs preserved, they need to make their case and engage with the Hill. Otherwise, politics will fill the vacuum in agencies’ silence. It’s better to inform the debate than have the debate be shaped by everyone, but you.

Green eyeshades are gaining a comeback. The term “green eyeshades” has in the past been used in derision. But in at least one agency, the director used to hand out personalized green eyeshades for its best performers and as a badge of honor, showing a commitment to sound analysis and professional dedication.

No doubt, our work involves a cognizance of the political impact and the politicos that use our analysis. Politics and budgets are often one in the same since they serve as blueprints for priorities. But, as Washington’s leaders are forced to search beyond smoke and mirrors and politics to look for real fiscal solutions, it’s the steady green eyeshades that will drive the discussion. Budget geeks rule.

Budget Minder is a pseudonym for a current congressional staffer and former Executive Branch financial analyst who is actively involved in budget analysis.