Projections published today by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office confirm that the federal government is on course to spend $1 trillion more than it raises in revenue in Fiscal Year 2020. Trillion-dollar deficits continue as far as the eye can see, with CBO estimating a 10-year deficit of over $13 trillion.
Legislative changes since August have increased projected deficits by more than $500 billion, according to CBO. More than 90 percent of the increase comes from a package of irresponsible tax cuts added to a year-end spending agreement passed in December. But most of the change was offset by a decline in the projected interest rates and other technical changes, leaving 10-year deficit forecasts “only” $160 billion more than they were in August 2019.
What’s driving these deficits? Primarily the growth in federal health-care and retirement programs caused by our ageing population. Federal spending on Social Security, Medicare, and other health programs is projected to grow from 11 percent of gross domestic product today to 14 percent in 2030. All other non-interest spending, meanwhile, is projected to shrink as a percentage of GDP. Revenue won’t keep up with these costs, in large part because the Trump administration keeps charging tax cuts upon tax cuts to the national credit card. If anything, CBO’s projections are overly optimistic because the agency is required to assume most of these tax cuts expire in 2025 as they are scheduled to under current law.
Read the full piece here.
