Home Programs and Projects Programs: Fiscal Policy

Advancing Fiscal Solutions

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America’s fiscal challenges are serious, but they are solvable.

We support and produce a wide range of unbiased, substantive research and data, helping policymakers, journalists and the public develop a fuller understanding of our fiscal and economic outlook — and illuminating a way forward.

98%

Debt-to-GDP Ratio

The national debt is approximately the size of the entire economy and is projected to exceed its record high in 4 years.

$1.8T

Annual Deficit

That’s an increase of $138 billion — or about 8 percent — higher than the previous year’s official deficit. 

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Fiscal Confidence Index (100 is neutral)

A majority of voters from across the political spectrum agree that lawmakers should spend more time addressing the national debt.

Many Solutions Exist

Solutions Initiative

The Solutions Initiative brings together leading policy organizations from across the political spectrum to develop comprehensive plans to put America on a stronger, more sustainable fiscal path.

Learn More

Highlights From Our Grantees & Partners

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Budget Offsets Bank

To help policymakers put us on a more sustainable fiscal path, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget maintains a list of policy options to reduce the deficit or use as offsets.

Read Report on crfb.org
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A Bigger, Easier Target For DOGE: Tax Expenditures

"Whether through broad reforms, narrow changes, or a combination of the two, tax expenditures present opportunities for the kinds of change DOGE leaders have been tasked with," William G. Gale writes for the Tax Policy Center.

Read Report on taxpolicycenter.org

Program Highlights

Chart Packs

Chart Packs

Chart packs offer compelling visualizations of the competing priorities, complex issues and meaningful trends that define our budget-making process and fiscal outlook.

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Current Federal Deficit and Debt

These charts place monthly Treasury data in recent context and break down spending and revenues. 

The national debt is $36 trillion and growing.

National Debt Clock

See the latest numbers and learn more about the causes of our high and rising national debt. 

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Interest Costs on the National Debt

See interest costs on the national debt for this fiscal year and projections for the next 10 years.

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Fiscal Confidence Index

FCI tracks the American public’s views about our fiscal condition and the progress elected leaders are making in addressing it.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 31: A view of empty Democrat seats during a meeting of the Senate Finance Committee to vote on the nominations of cabinet nominees Tom Price and Steve Mnuchin, on Capitol Hill, January 31, 2017 in Washington, DC. Senate Democrats on the committee did not show up for the meeting and are boycotting Mnuchin and Price committee votes. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Budget Terms and Processes

Understanding what’s happening on Capitol Hill requires an understanding of the Congressional budget process — which is notoriously technical, complex and arcane.

Further Reading

More Resources
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What Are Refundable Tax Credits?

The cost of refundable tax credits has grown over the past several years, with the number and budgetary impact of the credits increasing.