Taxes & Budget
Coverage of the national budget and your taxes.
Freedom Caucus hatches plan to stave off Democrats’ spending increases through 2026 elections
The House Freedom Caucus is putting the “finishing touches” on a proposal to freeze government funding levels for another year — and potentially through the 2026 midterm elections, the group’s chairman said Thursday.
Federal workers bowing to Trump’s order to show up for work
President Trump’s effort to get federal employees back into their offices for work is proving to be stunningly effective, with the number of full-time in-office employees nearly tripling over the last six months.
Georgia Republicans, against backdrop of 2026 election, push to eliminate state income tax
As the 2026 election looms, Georgia Republicans seeking higher office met Tuesday to begin exploring plans for Georgia to eliminate the state’s personal income tax.
IRS gives up after blowing $500K a year on broken self-serve kiosks
Three decades ago the IRS stormed into the digital age with self-help kiosks, intended to give taxpayers an option for figuring out their taxes without having to wait for a human.
Trump says he kicked nearly 275,000 illegal immigrants off Social Security
President Trump said Thursday he made strides in preserving Social Security by rooting out fraud and abuse, including getting hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants off the program.
Democrats aim to expand Social Security if they retake Congress
Key Democrats said Wednesday they want to protect Social Security in the short term by reversing Trump administration cuts to the agency and in the long term by raising taxes on the wealthy to pay for an expansion of benefits.
College endowment tax is leading to hiring freezes and could mean cuts in financial aid
A big increase in the tax on university endowments is adding to financial uncertainty for the wealthiest colleges in the U.S., leading several already to lay off staff or implement hiring freezes.
Trump orders work on new census that will not include those in U.S. illegally
President Trump announced Thursday that he has ordered the Department of Commerce to create a census that will exclude anyone illegally in the U.S.
Trump’s broad tariffs go into effect, just as economic pain is surfacing
President Trump began levying higher import taxes on dozens of countries Thursday, just as the economic fallout of his monthslong tariff threats has begun to create visible damage for the U.S. economy.
Trump creates credibility crisis for Labor Department’s monthly jobs report
Experts on all sides of the political divide said the Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers, while facing some challenges, are not being manipulated to aid Democrats or derail President Trump.
Federal watchdog hits Trump administration for illegally withholding funds for NIH grants
The Trump administration illegally impounded congressionally approved funding for the National Institutes of Health as it canceled existing grants and reduced new grant awards, a congressional watchdog agency found.
Candidate security costs surge 18-fold; Trump tops spending amid assassination attempts, threats
Candidates running for federal office have collectively spent more than $41 million in campaign funds on security in the past decade as threats against public officials are on the rise, with President Trump alone spending $6.8 million, according to a new report.
Congress eyes repeal of One Big Beautiful Bill’s tax increase for gamblers
A group of lawmakers is working to scratch a new gambling penalty tucked into President Trump’s sweeping tax and spending mega-bill. The bill signed into law by Mr. Trump on July 4 includes a surprise tax hike dinging gamblers.
Senate departs Washington for summer as Trump gives up on confirming 150 nominees
President Trump abandoned his push for the Senate to work through August to confirm more than 150 of his judicial and executive picks that have cleared committee and are awaiting a floor vote.
Overdue: Feds reveal secret list of taxpayer-funded ‘boondoggle’ transportation projects
The Department of Transportation has released a long-secret list of its most overdue and over-budget projects, revealing billions of dollars in taxpayer money committed to projects that just can’t seem to get across the finish line.
Vice President J.D. Vance is on the road again to sell the Republicans’ big new tax law
Vice President J.D. Vance is hitting his home state on Monday to continue promoting the GOP’s sweeping tax-and-border bill.
