Prabowo scraps ministry birthday budgets, orders simple tumpengan

President Prabowo Subianto asked all government agencies and institutions to eliminate budgets for ministry birthday celebrations as part of efforts to streamline state spending. In his budget speech on the 2027 RAPBN at the parliamentary complex on Friday (14/8), Prabowo said ministry anniversaries should be marked simply with a tumpeng cut at the office. He stressed that savings must apply at every level of government, from provinces to regencies and cities. According to Prabowo, money usually spent on ceremonies would be better redirected to strategic programs such as repairing schools, hospitals and raising teacher pay. He also said state spending should not be large in the budget but small in its benefits. However, the centrally held Independence Day ceremony remains mandatory.