Trump and Congress Want To Extend 2017 Tax Cuts. How Will They Pay For It?
Key Points
- Republican leaders are extending the 2017 tax cuts and jobs bill, which could lead to a federal budget of $5.5 trillion over the next decade.
- Legislators are considering several strategies to offset these tax cuts, including reducing spending on low-income Medicaid and food programs.
- Trump said his proposed tariff revenue will balance the federal budget, but import taxes could damage the economy, resulting in unpredictable impacts.
President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers in Congress are extending the 2017 tax cuts and employment bill, raising the question: Will they deal with a $5.5 trillion price?
The MP is Prepare to expand TCJA In this year’s budget. The landmark laws of Trump’s first administration lowered corporate and individual tax rates, making standard deductions more beneficial instead of listing tax returns and increasing child tax credits, among other things.
According to a January analysis by the Treasury Department, the government will pay up to $55 trillion in losses by 2035 compared to letting it expire. The cost of the law depends on how it is calculated. The Republican budget calls for a $4.5 trillion tax cut, but the analysis is that the country will generate more benefits for national debt due to reduced revenues.
Congressional leaders are reportedly debating ways to pay, including cutting spending and offsetting some fees from President Donald Trump’s trade war tariffs. Even so, extending tax cuts could increase the U.S. spending deficit.
Cut spending
House Republicans approved a budget framework Tuesday that would raise $2 trillion in savings by the Congressional Commission. Of these, $880 billion may come mainly from the government’s health insurance plan for low-income families. Cut Snap (government program) to provide food aid to low-income families, with an additional $230 billion.
Spending cuts face opposition from Democrats, who are minorities in both Congress. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a member of New York Congress, said no one in his party would support the budget because those with lower incomes rely on programs like Medicaid and SNAP to make ends meet .
An analysis by Urban Institute Think Tank found that expanding TCJA’s revenue to 45% will benefit most of the top 5% of the wealthy and taxpayers.
The budget process is far from complete, and the Senate and the House still have to agree on its details. If they remain uniform, Republicans only have three votes to cover House Democrats, complicating their efforts to pass any spending cuts.
Outside Congress, President Donald Trump’s task force led by Elon Musk said it has cancelled contracts and Fire workersalthough the accuracy of the total is controversial.
Doge’s efforts also face legal challenges from unions, and others believe that the Constitution only allows Congress to control spending levels. If confirmed, these spending cuts would be 1.18% to pay the tax cuts.
tariff
Last week, President Donald Trump said: “Getting a lot of money from tariffs” will help balance the budget.
According to an analysis by the nonpartisan tax foundation, tariffs proposed by Trump on his campaign could raise $3.8 trillion in revenue for the administration within 10 years.
But economists found these tariffs It may also have negative impacts on the economyincluding increasing inflation, eliminating jobs and slowing economic growth.
Increase government bonds
Economists at Morgan Stanley estimate that even if spending cuts are outlined in the bill, tax cuts will deepen the spending deficit of $3.3 trillion over the next decade.
Some economic forecasts assume that after all political disputes, Congress will make up for this without any meaningful cuts in spending, as it has previously solved the financial dilemma. This will accelerate the federal spending deficit and increase Treasury bonds.
For Deutsche Bank economists, the most likely result is that no material expenditure was cut, and the result was completed, and that result was completed.