Joan Huffer is the director of the federal budget initiative at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a project that provides information and technical assistance about federal budget, tax, and low-income policies to state nonprofit organizations.

Previously, Ms. Huffer worked in the U.S. Senate for twenty-seven years in various capacities. She served two stints on the Senate Budget Committee, most recently as a senior analyst for education and appropriations issues. She handled income security and education issues for Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (SD) from 1997 through 2004. During her first shift on the budget committee from 1994 to 1997, Ms. Huffer worked on major entitlement issues including social security, welfare reform, nutrition, and Medicaid. She also worked on the personal staffs of Senator Kent Conrad (ND) and Senator Don Riegle (MI).

Ms. Huffer earned a master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University, and a bachelor of arts degree from Wellesley College.