Overview: Federal Debt and the Fiscal Outlook

GAO's federal simulations show that absent policy changes, the federal government faces a rapid and unsustainable growth in debt. Simulations of the state and local government sector show that not only the federal government faces fiscal challenges that will have a profound effect on government over the coming decades. A growing imbalance between revenue and spending is driven on the spending side by rising health care costs and the aging population, which in turn will lead to a rapid increase in spending on retirement and health programs.

In light of these challenges, GAO works to provide Congress and the public with updated analysis on the fiscal outlook for the federal government and for the state and local government sector and with answers to key questions about federal debt.

The State and Local Government's Fiscal Outlook

GAO's simulations show the size of the fiscal challenges that confront the state and local sector, and highlight the sector's key fiscal pressures. read more »
 

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