Aug 8, 2018

National deficit grew 20% last year, partially due to Trump tax cuts

Stef W. Kight

Photo: Chris Kleponis/Pool via Getty Images

The U.S. national deficit grew by 20% ($75 billion) over the past year, according to the latest report by the Congressional Budget Office, partially due to Trump's tax cuts as well as increased national spending.

Between the lines: Axios' Jonathan Swan has reported that there has been an ongoing tussle between debt-loving President Trump and his penny-pinching Budget Director Mick Mulvaney. Mulvaney has been privately pushing Trump to get more aggressive about cutting spending, but debt and deficits have, so far, only ballooned under Trump.

By the numbers:

  • Spending is up by $143 billion (4%) from last year.
  • 2018 saw a $66-billion drop in corporate taxes, largely due to Trump's newest tax policy, according to the CBO.
  • Revenue from individual income taxes, however, grew more than expected because of economic growth and wage increases, according to the CBO. But the growth was not nearly enough to compensate for increased spending.
  • The deficit, which is now at $685 billion, is expected to reach $793 billion by the end of the year and come close to $1 trillion next year.

Go deeper

Rashaan Ayesh

U.S. and Taliban sign peace deal

US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad (L) and Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar (R) sign a peace agreement during a ceremony in Qatar. Photo: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images

The United States signed a peace deal with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar on Saturday after over a year of off-and-on negotiations, The New York Times reports.

Why it matters: The signing of the deal officially begins the process of ending the United States' longest war, which has spanned nearly two decades. The agreement sets a timetable for the U.S. to pull its remaining 13,000 troops out of Afghanistan, per the Times, but is contingent on the Taliban's completion of commitments, including breaking ties with international terrorist groups, such as al Qaeda.

Keep ReadingArrow3 mins ago - World
Alexi McCammond

Biden bets it all on South Carolina

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Most Joe Biden admirers Axios interviewed in South Carolina, where he's vowed to win today's primary, said they're unfazed by his embarrassing losses in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

Why it matters: Biden has bet it all on South Carolina to position himself as the best alternative to Bernie Sanders — his "good buddy," he tells voters before skewering Sanders' record and ideas.

Go deeperArrow2 hours ago - Politics & Policy
Axios

Coronavirus updates: Market ends worst week since financial crisis

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins, the CDC, and China's Health Ministry. Note: China numbers are for the mainland only and U.S. numbers include repatriated citizens.

The stock market ended its worst week since the financial crisis, prompting the Fed to release a statement. Meanwhile, the WHO warned that countries are losing their chance to contain the novel coronavirus and raised its global risk assessment to "very high" Friday.

The big picture: COVID-19 has killed more than 2,860 people and infected more than 84,000 others in over 60 countries and territories outside the epicenter in mainland China. The number of new cases reported outside China now exceed those inside the country.

Go deeperArrowUpdated 13 hours ago - Health