The new deficit figures were issued a day after the chairman of the Federal Reserve called for a 'more sustainable' federal budget, telling the Congress that $1 trillion deficits are unacceptable.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell says he would be concerned “now” over the Federal Budget Deficit. He says the Debt is growing faster than the economy. Adding, “but 20 years from now children will spend on servicing the debt rather than on things they need. “ #Fed #Economy
— Edward Lawrence (@EdwardLawrence) February 12, 2020
Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell told Congress on Tuesday that now would be a good time to reduce the federal budget deficit, which is expected to top $1T this year. https://t.co/v4OlIm9tD8
— Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) February 11, 2020
The latest budget plan from the White House issued on Monday does not envision a balanced U.S. federal budget for 15 years.
The last time the feds ran a surplus was at the end of the Clinton Administration in the late 1990's.
The report showed the federal government raised nearly $7 billion in import duties in January, as the President's higher tariffs on imported goods continues to be felt by certain U.S. companies.
In the first four months of the fiscal year, the government has brought in $28 billion in tariffs - an average of $7 billion a month for the entire year would total out to just under $100 billion.
Collections of tariffs are up $3.6 billion from the same point a year ago - an average of $900 million per month.
For comparison, when President Trump took office three years ago in January of 2017, the feds were collecting $3 billion per month in tariffs.
That figure has now more than doubled to an average of $7 billion.
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