Fact Check: "The tax bill will not significantly add to the deficit."
What We Know
The claim that "the tax bill will not significantly add to the deficit" is rooted in various analyses and projections regarding the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), which is part of President Trump's economic agenda. According to the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), the OBBB is projected to reduce the national debt to 94% of GDP by 2034, compared to a projected 117% under the current law. They assert that the total deficit will be cut nearly in half, from 6.2% of GDP to 3.2% under the Trump plan, saving approximately $1.1 trillion in that year alone.
However, contrasting analyses from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and other independent sources suggest a different outlook. The CBO's report indicates that enacting the OBBB could increase primary deficits by $3.2 trillion from 2025 to 2034, which contradicts the claims made by the CEA. Furthermore, a report from the Penn Wharton Budget Model estimates that the bill would lead to a significant increase in primary deficits, raising concerns about its long-term fiscal impact.
Analysis
The conflicting projections highlight the complexity of estimating the fiscal impact of tax legislation. The CEA's optimistic view relies heavily on the assumption that the tax cuts will spur substantial economic growth, which in turn would generate increased revenue and reduce deficits. This perspective aligns with the administration's broader narrative of fiscal responsibility through growth-driven policies.
On the other hand, independent analyses, such as those from the CBO and Reuters, present a more cautious outlook. They emphasize that while the bill may provide short-term economic benefits, it could ultimately exacerbate long-term fiscal challenges by significantly reducing tax revenuesβestimated at $4.5 trillion over ten years according to the Washington Post. This reduction in revenue, coupled with increased spending, raises valid concerns about the sustainability of the fiscal framework proposed by the OBBB.
Moreover, the Tax Foundation and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget suggest that without offsets for the temporary provisions of the bill, the debt could increase by $5 trillion, including interest. This perspective underscores the importance of considering both immediate and long-term fiscal implications when evaluating the claim.
Conclusion
The claim that "the tax bill will not significantly add to the deficit" is Partially True. While proponents of the OBBB argue that it will lead to deficit reduction through economic growth, independent analyses indicate that it may actually increase deficits in the long run due to substantial revenue losses. The differing projections reflect the inherent uncertainties in economic forecasting, particularly regarding the impact of tax cuts on growth and revenue.
Sources
- The One Big Beautiful Bill Slashes Deficits, National Debt ...
- Effects on Deficits and the Debt of Enacting H.R. 1 and of ...
- Senate-Passed Reconciliation Bill: Budget, Economic, and ...
- New Analysis: Senate Tax Bill Drives Deficit Reduction by ...
- Trump tax bill averts one debt crisis but makes future ...
- Trump's 'big beautiful' tax bill adds trillions to the national ...
- Big Beautiful Bill Impact: US Deficit & Economy
- Breaking Down the One Big Beautiful Bill-2025-06-04