Chris Towner

Chris Towner is the Policy Director for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he analyzes budget, tax, health, and retirement policy. As policy director, Chris manages the day-to-day workflow of the policy team and oversees many of the policy projects the Committee undertakes. He frequently briefs Congressional staff and helps members of the media, educators, and the general public grasp the complex concepts of federal budget policy.

Prior to this, Chris advocated for children in federal budget issues at First Focus on Children, leading the annual production of First Focus's Children's Budget. Before becoming policy director, Chris was an analyst on the Committee's policy team, with a focus on Social Security and disability policy. He was the lead analyst for the McCrery-Pomeroy SSDI Solutions Initiative, where he managed the production and publication of two volumes on improving the Social Security Disability Insurance program. Chris was elected as a member of the National Academy of Social Insurance in 2022. Originally hailing from just outside Chicago, Illinois, Chris holds a bachelor's degree and master's degree in Political Science from Boston University. His pronouns are he/him/his. Contact him at towner@crfb.org.