To understand where we need to go, it helps to look at where we have been. In just a quarter century, the federal budget has swung from surplus to deep deficits, with little sign of reversal ahead. Two charts illustrate…
The recent government shutdown made one thing abundantly clear: health care affordability remains a flashpoint in Washington’s fiscal battles. At the center of the dispute was the fate of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced premium subsidies—temporary provisions that have…
As homebuyers across the country grapple with persistently high mortgage rates, many are asking: Why is borrowing to buy a home getting so expensive? While inflation and Federal Reserve policy play a role, there’s another powerful—and often overlooked—factor at work:…
Medicare is the second-largest program in the federal budget, behind only Social Security. In fiscal year 2025, it cost $997 billion—roughly 14% of all federal spending. Although both programs primarily serve older Americans, Medicare is growing faster than Social Security…
“No Way to Run a Great Nation” Bourdeaux Calls on Congress to Reframe the Budget Process WASHINGTON, D.C. – [November 12, 2025]: In response to the expected end of the longest government shutdown in American history, Concord Action Executive Director…
Social Security is the largest single program in the federal budget, costing $1.6 trillion in fiscal year 2025—about 22% of total federal spending. Because of its scale, Social Security plays a major role in shaping the nation’s fiscal outlook. However,…
WASHINGTON, D.C., November 7, 2025 - In response to reporting about negotiations to end the federal government shutdown, Concord Action Executive Director Carolyn Bourdeaux released the following statement: “Talks to end the federal government shutdown are getting real, but neither…
The federal debt has ballooned over the past two decades, with deficits growing year after year and little to stop them. Between 2010 and 2024 alone, the national debt surged by nearly $22 trillion. Despite repeated warnings from economists and…
Concord Action Announces Policy Agenda to Restore Fiscal Responsibility Bipartisan Fiscal Commission is First Step for Congress to Address $38T Debt WASHINGTON, D.C. — [October 29, 2025]: With the federal government once again paralyzed by partisanship and fiscal brinkmanship…
Emergency spending plays a unique role in the federal budget process. It allows Congress to respond quickly to urgent, unforeseen events—such as natural disasters, military conflicts, serious economic downturns such as the Great Recession, or public health emergencies such as…
A 3% Deficit Target: A First Step in Stabilizing the National Debt A growing number of fiscal experts and policymakers—including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and financier Ray Dalio—are coalescing around the idea that reducing the federal deficit to 3% of…
In response to the introduction of H.R.5755, the No Budget, No Pay Act, Concord Action Executive Director Carolyn Bourdeaux issued the following statement: “As our national debt has now surpassed $37 trillion, and annual deficit spending is now nearing $2…
