Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Minister of FinancePurbaya Yudhi Sadewa announced that the government is drafting a budget efficiency plan for ministries and agencies to ensure the 2026 state budget deficit remains below the legal 3% limit. 

Amid rising global oil prices fueled by Middle Eastern tensions, the ministry is prioritizing fiscal discipline over expanding debt. The strategy focuses on slashing additional budget requests and postponing non-essential projects to absorb potential spikes in fuel subsidy costs without triggering a total fiscal redesign.

"If fuel prices continue to rise, our first step is efficiency," Minister Purbaya said following a coordination meeting in Jakarta on Monday (16/3/2026), as quoted by antaranews.com. 

He clarified that the ministry is currently identifying specific expenditure posts, particularly additional cost requests, that can be deferred until economic conditions stabilize. Unlike the broad spending cuts of 2025, this round of efficiency will be managed internally by the Finance Ministry without requiring a new Presidential Instruction. 

While a budget recalculation may occur if oil prices remain high, the government currently has no plans to issue an emergency regulation to widen the deficit.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)