Papers
View our recurring reports, which summarize and analyze the most important regular federal budget releases and reports.
Analysis of the 2019 Social Security Trustees’ Report
The Social Security Trustees released their annual report today, continuing to show that the Social Security program must address its funding...
Why Should We Worry About the National Debt?
Though the national debt is at a post-war high, the willingness of policymakers to address it seems as if it is at an all-time low. The last two years...
Why Should We Worry About the National Debt: Questions and Answers
“Why Should We Worry About the National Debt?” describes six important ways that the growing national debt will affect the budget and the economy...
Letter for the Record on Comprehensive Legislative Proposals on Social Security
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget submitted a letter for the record from CRFB president Maya MacGuineas pertaining to the House Ways and...
Analysis of the President’s FY 2020 Budget
The Trump Administration released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 budget proposal today, outlining the President’s tax and spending priorities over the next...
Written Testimony on Our Nation's Crumbling Infrastructure and the Need for Immediate Action
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget submitted testimony for the record pertaining to the House Ways and Means Committee hearing on "Our...
Budget Resolution Principles for Fiscal Year 2020
The congressional budget resolution should establish the nation’s priorities, the approach to financing them, and a plan to ensure the nation is on a...
Charting a Responsible Path for Discretionary Spending
With the government now fully funded for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, policymakers must begin the conversation over appropriate funding levels for next year...
Q&A: Everything You Should Know About Government Shutdowns
The fiscal year began on Oct. 1, 2018, and Congress has passed just five out of 12 appropriations bills setting discretionary spending levels...
Analysis of CBO’s January 2019 Budget and Economic Outlook
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its Budget and Economic Outlook today, projecting high and rising deficits and debt over the next...
Q&A: Everything You Should Know About Government Shutdowns
This paper has been updated here. The fiscal year began on Oct. 1, 2018, and Congress has passed just five out of 12 appropriations bills setting...
Maya MacGuineas's Testimony on the Perils of Ignoring Debt
On December 20, 2018, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget president Maya MacGuineas testified before the House Financial Services Committee on...