Skip to content
Peter G. Peterson Foundation logo
  • The Fiscal Challenge
    • Our National Debt
    • Understanding The Federal Budget
  • Issues
    • See all issues ›
    • Fiscal Outlook
    • Healthcare
    • Social Programs
    • The U.S. Budget
    • Defense Spending
    • Policy Proposals
    • Individual Taxes
    • Corporate Taxes
    • Economic Outlook
    • Democracy
  • Programs & Projects
    • Advancing Fiscal Policy
    • Engaging Young Americans
    • Strengthening Our Democracy
    • Convening Experts
    • See all ›
  • Resources
  • Press
  • Grants
  • About
    • About the Peterson Foundation
    • Our Founder
    • Careers
Subscribe

SIGN UP FOR OUR
NEWSLETTER

Register with us to become part of an important movement to develop long-term, nonpartisan fiscal solutions for a healthy growing economy. By signing up, you’ll receive our email newsletter with relevant and timely information on economic and fiscal policy.

Consent

Our Sites

National Debt Clock

Peterson Center on Healthcare

Peterson Health Technology Institute

Peterson Philanthropies

Peterson Solutions Fund

Up to Us

Twitter - Peterson Foundation Facebook - Peterson Foundation Youtube - Peterson Foundation Linkedin - Peterson Foundation
  • Press
  • Grants
  • About
    • About the Peterson Foundation
    • Our Founder
    • Careers
Subscribe

SIGN UP FOR OUR
NEWSLETTER

Register with us to become part of an important movement to develop long-term, nonpartisan fiscal solutions for a healthy growing economy. By signing up, you’ll receive our email newsletter with relevant and timely information on economic and fiscal policy.

Consent

Our Sites

National Debt Clock

Peterson Center on Healthcare

Peterson Health Technology Institute

Peterson Philanthropies

Peterson Solutions Fund

Up to Us

Twitter - Peterson Foundation Facebook - Peterson Foundation Youtube - Peterson Foundation Linkedin - Peterson Foundation
Subscribe

SIGN UP FOR OUR
NEWSLETTER

Register with us to become part of an important movement to develop long-term, nonpartisan fiscal solutions for a healthy growing economy. By signing up, you’ll receive our email newsletter with relevant and timely information on economic and fiscal policy.

Consent

  • The Fiscal Challenge
    • Our National Debt

      Understand the U.S. national debt, why it matters, and what we can do.

      Understanding the Federal Budget

      Learn about the budget, how it’s created, and how we can fix our budgeting process.

      $36T

      National Debt

      $1T

      FY25 Deficit

  • Issues
      • Fiscal Outlook

      • The U.S. Budget

      • Policy Proposals

      • Individual Taxes

      • Corporate Taxes

      • Democracy

      • Healthcare

      • Social Programs

      • Defense Spending

      • Economic Outlook

      • See all Issues&nbsp&nbsp

  • Programs and Projects
      • Advancing Fiscal Solutions

      • Engaging Young Americans

      • Strengthening Our Democracy

      • Convening Experts

      • See all Programs&nbsp&nbsp

  • Resources

Healthcare Costs Are a Major Driver of the National Debt and Here’s the Biggest Reason Why

By briteweb | July 2, 2025
Surgeons working in operating room

One of the largest drivers of that rising debt is federal spending on major healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid.

Read More

Despite Decades of Warnings, Depletion of Social Security’s Trust Fund Is Getting Closer

By briteweb | July 1, 2025

The depletion dates for Social Security and Medicare’s Trust Funds are rapidly approaching.

Read More

U.S. Healthcare System Ranks Seventh Worldwide — Innovative but Fiscally Unsustainable

By briteweb | June 30, 2025
Medical workers

Spending on healthcare in the United States has far outpaced other major healthcare systems without yielding better outcomes.

Read More

Chart Pack: Healthcare

By briteweb | June 27, 2025
Chart Packs

These charts illustrate the growth in U.S. healthcare spending and how it affects the federal budget.

Read More

Infographic: How Are Capital Gains Taxed?

By jcurry | June 25, 2025
graph

The capital gains tax, which is a levy on said profits, is categorized as part of individual income tax revenues, but it is administered at a lower rate than ordinary income.

Read More

Medicare’s Hospital Insurance Trust Fund Could Be Exhausted In 8 Years

By briteweb | June 24, 2025
medicare-trustees-summary-hero

Without reform, Medicare spending will continue to rise over the coming years — threatening the HI Trust Fund and placing immense pressure on the federal budget.

Read More

Social Security Faces Serious Financial Shortfalls and Other Takeaways From the Trustees Report

By briteweb | June 18, 2025

Without reform, the Social Security Trust Funds will soon be depleted and unable to pay full benefits.

Read More

Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds Could Be Depleted Within the Next Decade

By briteweb | June 18, 2025
Social Security Administration sign on field office building.

Today, the Social Security and Medicare Trustees released their annual reports on the programs’ financing, showing that the future of these vital programs remain at risk.

Read More

What Are Earmarks and What Purpose Do They Serve?

By briteweb | June 17, 2025
United States Capitol

Earmarks have been controversial, but nevertheless were reinstated by Congress in 2021 after a 10-year moratorium.

Read More

What Are Treasury’s “Extraordinary Measures” on the Debt Ceiling?

By briteweb | June 10, 2025
The Treasury Department

When the government reaches its debt ceiling, the Treasury can use various accounting maneuvers, so-called “extraordinary measures,” to forestall a default.

Read More
Older Posts »

Recent Posts

    Recent Comments

    No comments to show.

    Get Involved

    Register with us to become part of an important movement to develop long-term fiscal solutions for a healthy growing economy. By signing up, you’ll receive our email newsletter with relevant and timely information on economic and fiscal policy.

    Take action

    Learn what you can do.

    Explore

    Read and share insights on the issues we face.

    Peterson-Logo-Transparent
    Twitter - Peterson Foundation Facebook - Peterson Foundation Youtube - Peterson Foundation Linkedin - Peterson Foundation
    the foundation

    Home
    Issues
    Press

    about

    About
    Our Founder
    Careers

    Our Organizations
    PCH Logo
    Peterson Philanthropies
    Peterson Solutions Fund Logo
    Peterson-Health-Techonology-logo-color 1

    Copyright © 2025 Peter G. Peterson Foundation. 
All rights reserved.      Copyright Policy     |      Privacy Policy     |     Terms of Use     |     Permissions