Supplemental Funding Should Be Carefully Reviewed and Fully Offset

The White House recently requested an $87.6 billion supplemental appropriations package. Their request includes over $70 billion for military and related expenses, including funding for the war in Iran and replenishing military stockpiles. The Administration is also requesting over $11 billion in farm aid and several billion dollars related to funding pension bailouts, construction at Penn Station in New York, support for the Ebola outbreak in Africa, and other purposes.

The following is a statement from Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget:

With debt approaching record levels and interest costs continuing to explode, we cannot afford to keep expanding our borrowing. Congress should carefully review and fully offset every dollar of this supplemental request. True emergency funding can be expedited but should be coupled with new taxes or spending cuts. Any remaining funds should be carefully considered and paid for twice-over only if they are worth the cost.

The nation’s massive deficits and debt represent a serious threat to our economy, our budget outlook, and our national security. It’s time for Congress and the President to start taking our fiscal outlook seriously. 

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For more information, please contact Matt Klucher, Assistant Director for Media Relations, at klucher@crfb.org.