Possible Budget Deal Will Add $2 Trillion to the National Debt
If President Donald Trump signs the deal into law, he will have authorized a 22 percent increase in federal discretionary spending during his first term in office.
Government Spending
Police, Vigilantes Battle Hong Kong Demonstrators
Iran seizes British tanker, White House and Congress approach a budget deal, Bernie Sanders cuts campaign workers' hours, and more...
Progressives and Libertarians Team Up to Deregulate Airports
Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Thomas Massie have introduced a bill that would cut federal airport spending while giving airports more freedom to raise their money.
Rand Paul Was Right to Delay Vote on Funding Bill for 9/11 First Responders
The Kentucky senator wants the Senate to consider offsetting spending cuts before approving limitless, automatic spending for the rest of the century.
Trump Administration Threatens Veto Over Defense Bill That Only Spends $733 Billion
The White House is asking Congress to spend $750 billion on the military this coming fiscal year.
How To Get Better at Budgets
In a few countries, legislators have enacted policies that actually constrain spending. The U.S. has a lot to learn.
The Depressing State of the 2020 Presidential Race
Lots of bad ideas from both sides of the political aisle.
Man, This CBO Report About 'Unprecedented' Debt Levels Is a Bummer
The national debt will hit 140 percent of GDP before the end of the 2040s, and that's the optimistic scenario.
(We Didn't) Bomb Bomb Bomb, Bomb Bomb Iran…Yet
Parsing Trump's foreign policy, economic theories, and ideological relationship with the 2020 Democratic field
Bernie Sanders Wants To Cancel All Student Debt and Make College Free, at a Cost of $2.2 Trillion
The Vermont senator is clearly trying to outdo his main progressive rival, Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Let's Move More Federal Agencies Out of Washington
There's no need for most federal agencies to be stationed in the nation's capital, one of the most expensive cities in the country.
Mick Mulvaney Turns His Back on Fiscal Responsibility
"Show me the majority for cutting spending," he says.
Thomas Massie Catches Bipartisan Flak for Suggesting Congress Actually Vote on $19 Billion in Disaster Funding
Demanding that members of Congress be in town to vote on spending huge sums of money seems reasonable.
Trump Says China Is Paying for His $16 Billion Tariff Bailout to Farmers. That's Simply Not True.
This might seem like nothing more than a snooze-worthy debate over semantics or economic theory or government P.R. strategies. But it matters a lot.
Pelosi, Schumer Pitch Trump on Spendy, Protectionist Infrastructure Package
The president continues to move closer to Democratic proposals on infrastructure spending.
Here's What's in Beto O'Rourke's $5 Trillion Plan To Fight Climate Change
O'Rourke wants net-zero emissions by 2050.
D.C. Water Spent Nearly $4,000 On Its Wendy the Water Drop Mascot
The feds aren't the only ones capable of designing cringe-worthy mascots.
New York's $175 Billion State Budget Includes Spending Hikes, 'Mansion Taxes,' and Plastic Bag Bans
The Empire State's new budget grows government spending and red tape.
Beto O'Rourke, 2012: 'We Cannot Continue to Spend Ourselves into Ruin'
The 2020 presidential candidate ran on spending cuts, troop withdrawls, and means-testing Social Security while primarying an incumbent Democrat 7 years ago.
Trump's Budget Shortchanges the Prison Reform Bill He Signed
The FIRST STEP Act called for $75 million for reentry programs. It's not listed in the White House's summary.
Everyone Agrees Government Is a Hot Mess. So Why Does It Keep Getting Bigger Anyway?
When libertarians dole out blame for the growth of government, perhaps we should take a look in the mirror.
Pentagon Spent $4.6 Million on Lobster Tail and Crab in One Month
Chalk it up to use-it-or-lose-it spending.
White House's New Budget Gimmick: Include Immigration Enforcement Spending in the Uncapped Budget for Foreign Wars
Incredibly, the White House is trying to pitch this chicanery as an exercise in fiscal responsibility. Congress shouldn't buy it.
Study: Green New Deal Could Cost More Than $90 Trillion
Whether its supporters care is another question.
How to Go From Government Shutdown to National Emergency in Just Two Weeks: Reason Roundup
Plus: Congress forgets to fund the First Step Act, The New York Times chastises smug politicians over Amazon, and what if the U.S. were 100 city-states?
New Bipartisan Spending Deal Includes Billions More for Border Barriers, TSA, and Everything In Between
With the federal government $22 trillion in debt, Congress has decided to spend more money.
The Shutdown Was a Failure on Its Own Terms
It will leave us with a bigger, more powerful, and more fragile federal government.
CBO: Budget Deficit Numbers Are Better Than Expected, but We're Still Screwed
Unless we make some big changes, things won't get much better.
New Poll: Medicare for All Is Popular Until You Explain How It Works
Support drops when you tell people it would require higher taxes, longer lines, and switching insurance plans.
Mitch McConnell Predicted the GOP Tax Cut Would Raise Revenue and Reduce the Deficit. Nope.
A year after the tax law, growth is up but tax revenue is down.
Most Americans Want Congress to Fix Budget Crisis, Increase Spending. Huh?
You can't have it both ways.
With Pelosi Back in Power, Impasse Over Border Wall Drags On: Reason Roundup
Plus: Democrats divided on deficit-neutral spending and an autopsy of The Weekly Standard.
Mark Sanford's Farewell: Spending and Debt 'Could Lead to a Future Hitler-like Character'
Departing congressman warns against populism, "cult of personality," "post-truth" politics, and a government spending addiction that threatens to drive the American civilization "extinct."
Will Trump's Stubborn Demand for Wall Funding Keep the Government Shut Down Forever?
No, but it's nice to fantasize.
The Federal Government Has Shut Down. Merry Christmas!
Yes, it's only temporary. But if it stops Trump from blowing money on a stupid border wall, cheer it on.
The Government Is Definitely Going to Shut Down Tonight. Maybe.
No but really, the shutdown is probably going to happen.
A Deficit-Happy Government May Lead to a Debt-Driven Financial Crisis
Get ready for permanent low growth, a stifled entrepreneurial spirit, and high unemployment.
Report: Imprisoning People Who Can't Pay Bail Costs America $15 Billion a Year
Taxpayers shell out big time to keep poor folks who haven't even been convicted of crimes behind bars.
It Looks Like Trump Won't Shut Down the Government Over Border Wall Money
It sounds like Trump is folding, which is probably for the best.
Trump's Border Wall Is a Bad Idea. So Is a Government Shutdown.
The best we can hope for is that Trump gives in.
Rep. Justin Amash: Spending Deal 'Will Be Bad for the American People'
Drama over a possible government shutdown came to a head today. But Amash is sure of "one thing": The eventual deal won't be good for the country.
The Pentagon's Serial Waste and Shoddy Accounting Don't Preclude It From Getting More Money, Apparently
Defense budgeting should be a strategy debate, not a rubber stamp for higher spending
Trump Considers Tying Criminal Justice Reforms to Border Wall Funding
The FIRST STEP Act might get shoved into an end-of-year spending bill.
George H.W. Bush Averts Government Shutdown From the Grave: Reason Roundup
Plus: France postpones planned fuel-tax hike after Yellow Vest protests.
