RESOURCES
Research, analyses, and news from the Peter G. Peterson Foundation
Featured Article
Press Releases
Explore news and announcements from the Peter G. Peterson Foundation.
Chart Packs
Our charts frame the fiscal outlook of the U.S. government within a broad economic, political, and demographic context.
Polling
Our polling tracks the public’s views about our fiscal and economic condition and the progress elected leaders are making in addressing it.
Popular Articles
The Federal Government Has Borrowed Trillions. Who Owns All that Debt?
Most federal debt is owed to domestic holders, but foreign ownership is much higher now than it was about 50 years ago.
Understanding the New Senior Deduction in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
The senior deduction adds complexity to the tax code, and fewer than half of seniors will benefit from it.
Chart Pack: The U.S. Budget
A selection of key charts that give an overview of the major components in the U.S. federal budget.
Explore All Resources
SEARCH
SORT
Type
Issues
Feb 19, 2026
Lawmakers are Running Out of Time to Fix Social Security
Without reform, Social Security could be depleted as early as 2032, with automatic cuts for beneficiaries.
Feb 17, 2026
Chart Pack: The U.S. Budget
A selection of key charts that give an overview of the major components in the U.S. federal budget.
Jan 14, 2026
Budget Basics: How Does Social Security Work?
Social Security is the largest single program in the federal budget and typically makes up one-fifth of total federal spending.
Dec 10, 2025
How Did the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Affect Federal Spending?
Overall, the OBBBA adds significantly to the nation’s debt, but the act contains net spending cuts that lessen that impact.
Nov 18, 2025
What Is the Disaster Relief Fund?
Natural disasters are becoming increasingly frequent, endangering lives and extracting a significant fiscal and economic cost.
Nov 14, 2025
How Much Does the Government Spend on International Affairs?
Federal spending for international affairs, which supports American diplomacy and development aid, is a small portion of the U.S. budget.
Nov 13, 2025
A Brief History of U.S. Government Shutdowns
Government shutdowns (and the threat of them) are a recent phenomenon and something other developed countries don’t contend with.