‘Federal Budget Challenge’ Lets Citizens Tackle Deficit

Congress may have lost interest this year in dealing with the nation’s long-term fiscal challenges, but an updated online game gives average citizens the chance to put together their own federal deficit-reduction plans.

The Federal Budget Challenge lets players weigh some of the many options that are available to elected officials. These include proposals that would affect health care costs, taxes, defense spending, entitlement programs and other domestic programs such as education and transportation.

Congress may have lost interest this year in dealing with the nation’s long-term fiscal challenges, but an updated online game gives average citizens the chance to put together their own federal deficit-reduction plans.

The Federal Budget Challenge lets players weigh some of the many options that are available to elected officials. These include proposals that would affect health care costs, taxes, defense spending, entitlement programs and other domestic programs such as education and transportation.

The new version includes the most up-to-date options presented by the Congressional Budget Office.

The nonpartisan organizations Next Ten and The Concord Coalition created the Federal Budget Challenge. It is based on Concord’s “Principles and Priorities” exercise, which has been used in hundreds of classrooms and public programs across the country, including some hosted by members of Congress from both parties. The game platform was provided by Next Ten.