Republicans Target CBO Credibility Amid Deficit Dispute

The White House has staunchly defended President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill against Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analyses indicating it would increase the federal deficit by about $4 trillion and reduce Medicaid coverage for millions. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized the CBO's projections as historically inaccurate and politically biased, alleging a lack of Republican contributors among its staff since 2000, a claim fact-checked and widely disputed. This pushback is part of a broader Republican skepticism toward independent institutions such as the American Bar Association and major medical journals, which the administration perceives as obstacles. Despite the White House's assertions, experts and critics, including Elon Musk, have condemned the bill for excessive spending and potential harm to insurance coverage. The CBO's track record on forecasting tax and healthcare policy impacts has been questioned, but its role as a nonpartisan evaluator remains central in the debate over the bill's fiscal consequences. The controversy highlights the partisan divide over federal budget priorities and the credibility of institutions tasked with unbiased analysis.