At Across the Aisle™, we empower young leaders to engage with our country’s biggest policy challenges, learn about proposed solutions, and form their own opinions. They are encouraged to participate in productive, fact-based dialogues with their fellow voters and future leaders.
The content below does not necessarily reflect the views of Across the Aisle or its programs, nor does sharing this content represent an endorsement of these policy proposals.
America’s $39 trillion debt is more than a number on a spreadsheet. It impacts the U.S. job market, the economy, and the next generation’s future.
Over the next decade, this problem is only expected to get worse — the federal budget deficit will total $24.4 trillion and, as we spend more than we generate in revenue, our national debt will continue to surge.
To continue working toward solutions, Across the Aisle hosted a workshop this Tuesday that explored what the national debt is and how we can address it.
In our interactive “Debt Escape Room,” over 100 young professionals and public servants got to exercise their (temporary) congressional powers and vote on proposals to reduce the national debt.
As our Director of Policy Thomas Fodor put it, “We believe that everyone…should have a seat at the table where decisions are being made. So, we literally gave you a seat and a table.”
Keep reading for the four mock bills this Congress voted on and their plan for addressing the national debt. These policies were selected based on their projected impact on the deficit — not as an endorsement of any particular proposal. The estimates are drawn from analyses by the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation.
If you want to get caught up on the issue of the national debt first, check out our national debt primer.
1. Decrease Department of Defense Spending by 13% Over the Next Decade
The Department of Defense will spend $875 billion in fiscal year 2027 alone — one option to reduce the deficit is to decrease this spending. Although that would save $959 billion, it could also limit America’s military response, eliminate military jobs, and impact defense manufacturing and research and development.
As Fodor stated, “Fundamentally, what would occur is we would lose some military readiness.”
2. Gradually Raise the Medicare Part B Premium by 40% Over Five Years
Another option for reducing the deficit is to increase Medicare Part B premiums, saving $510 billion over 10 years. Once phased in, this policy would require a middle-income retiree to pay $1,352 more each year for health care coverage.
“Under the new policy, a middle-income retiree would spend $4,731 a year, and as a percentage of their income, Medicare Part B premiums would grow from 6% to 8%,” explained Fodor.
3. Apply the 12.4% Social Security Income Tax to Individuals Making Over $250,000
A frequently discussed policy option is adjusting the Social Security payroll tax. Currently, individuals only pay this tax on wages up to $184,500, but under this new policy, beneficiaries would also pay taxes on any income over $250,000. This would save $1.4 trillion over 10 years.
Fodor noted that a self-employed person making $300k would see a “$6,200 tax increase.”
4. Raise the Corporate Tax Rate from 21% to 28%
Another way to lower the deficit is to raise the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%, leading to an $881 billion savings over 10 years.
Fodor laid out what this could mean in practice: “[Corporations] could decide to absorb those lost profits from taxes…they could increase prices, reduce employee compensation, or decrease investment in research and development.”
How Did This Congress Do?
The 2026 Summer Series Congress successfully decreased the 10-year deficit by $3.27 trillion. The “members” voted to reduce defense spending, raise Social Security taxes, and increase the corporate tax rate.
At Across the Aisle, we don’t care about which policies “win” in the Debt Escape Room. Our goal is to create a space where tomorrow’s leaders consider every proposal, hear their neighbors out, and work together toward a solution.
At the end of the event, Fodor posed a question to the audience: “What kind of future will you be a part of building? Is it a future where we push others away, or is it a future built by welcoming people to the table like we did tonight?”
This Congress chose the latter, and we hope you will too.
Here are a few ways you can get involved in addressing the national debt:
- Talk to your friends and family about the deficit and our national debt.
- Check out our policy library and other resources to understand the issue.
- Follow Free the Facts™ on Instagram and sign up for our policy newsletter.
- Create change with Answer the Call™.
More on Summer Series 2026
Since 2017, Across the Aisle has hosted an annual summer event series for D.C. interns and junior staff to learn about the issues facing their generation, network, and launch their careers in public service.
Click here to learn more about this year’s theme, our speaker lineup, and how you can reserve your spot.
