Rising Deficits, Falling Revenues

President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans celebrate Congress passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on the South Lawn of the White House, Washington, D.C., December 2017. Credit: Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

The Fiscal Damage Caused by the New Republican Tax Law

The law commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act1 (TCJA), enacted in December 2017 by the Republican-controlled Congress, is substantially increasing federal deficits—and will for years to come. Regrettably, the law increased federal borrowing while addressing none of the nation’s most pressing challenges. In particular, after decades of growing income inequality and stagnant real wages for working-class Americans, the law conferred its largest benefits on the wealthiest Americans. The law did nothing to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, advance education, or prevent climate change. Moreover, by increasing federal deficits and debt, the law will increase pressure to cut vital programs, including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

This issue brief assesses the fiscal damage from the TCJA and finds: Continue reading “Rising Deficits, Falling Revenues”