Peterson on February Deficit: The Definition of Unsustainable
Peterson on February Deficit: The Definition of Unsustainable
NEW YORK — Michael A. Peterson, CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, commented today following the release of the Monthly Treasury Statement, which showed a deficit of $234 billion:
“Unfortunately, we will have to get used to deficits growing every year unless we start managing our debt problem. This is the structural deficit at work, increasing our borrowing and compounding interest every year. It’s the definition of unsustainable. More important than any one month’s deficit increase is the clear upward trend of the record national debt, and the staggering interest costs that go with it. Interest costs are now the fastest growing ‘program’ in the budget, will exceed what we spend on national defense in five years and will total $7 trillion over the next ten years. This is not the way to build the future that Americans want or deserve.”
Further Reading
How Does the National Debt Affect Inflation, Housing Costs, and the Job Market for Young People?
The unsustainable national debt poses a risk to our economic future, and young Americans may have the most to lose.
The National Debt Can Crowd Out Investments in the Economy — Here’s How
Large amounts of federal debt could “crowd out” investments by the private sector, making the economy less productive and stunting wage growth.
The President’s Budget Doesn’t Address National Debt, and Calls for Highest Defense Spending in History
For the second year in a row, the Trump Administration has submitted a budget that excludes key fiscal variables such as debt and deficit projections.