The House and Senate return from August break today with their work cut out for them on the fiscal front. While the issues are serious, unfortunately there’s not much time to act. Whether it’s finding consensus on a $90 billion budget gap before the end of the fiscal year, or next month’s looming debt ceiling debate, these challenges are urgent and demand leadership.
To welcome back the reconvening Congress, and highlight these critical challenges, the Peterson Foundation presents a fiscally-focused infographic that illustrates what’s at stake this fall. We’re sharing it to encourage Congress and the President to put a plan in place that protects America’s economic recovery, and also stabilizes our long-term national debt.

Further Reading
What Is the Primary Deficit?
The primary deficit is the difference between government revenues and spending, excluding interest payments. Learn more about the U.S. primary deficit.
What Is the National Debt Costing Us?
Programs that millions of Americans depend on and care about may be feeling a squeeze from interest costs on our high and rising national debt.
Poll: Voters Don’t Want New Legislation or Tax Cuts that Increase the National Debt
This year, President Trump and the new Congress face a series of high stakes fiscal policy decisions.