The situation
More to deliver, drawn from the same teams
Long-term investment programs across rail, roads, schools, research and the digitalization of public administration mean more projects for the same authorities. Every project needs a clear place in the plan. For the authorities delivering it, the planning question is sequencing: which planners, engineers and procurement specialists each project needs, and which projects start first.
The federal budget adds its own rhythm. Between the government draft and the final vote, the Bundestag’s budget committee can still adjust lines in its final session, the Bereinigungssitzung. One project gains funding, another is rephased, and the portfolio plan has to follow within days. Each change then has to be worked through across projects, teams and budget lines, and quickly.
At the same time, modernizing the federal administration asks the same people to build new digital services while running today’s administration. Everyone has a day job. A plan that counts only projects leaves out the work that keeps public services running, and that is where capacity really sits.