Maya MacGuineas
ON THE RECORD · 13 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“That’s why Washington needs a fiscal intervention now, before it’s too late. The President, the Treasury Secretary, and Congressional leadership need to understand the severity of this issue. There are no easy fixes, and we can’t just wish this problem away.”
Maya MacGuineas · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-17
The CRFB president called on Washington leaders to take fiscal action amid rising debt interest costs.
“Higher interest begets more debt, and greater debt begets higher rates and higher interest. Eventually, the whole thing could come crashing down,”
Maya MacGuineas · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-17
The CRFB president warned about the compounding dynamic between rising interest costs and growing national debt.
“This half-baked political scheme would make this all worse – exploding the deficit, ginning up inflation, and further driving up the cost of borrowing throughout the economy.”
Maya MacGuineas · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-16
MacGuineas warned that Trump's plan would worsen the deficit, inflation, and borrowing costs.
“Debt is now as large as our entire economy, deficits are running $2tn per year, inflation is about 3.5%, and the 10-year Treasury yield is approaching 5%,”
Maya MacGuineas · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-16
MacGuineas issued a stern warning about Trump's $5,000 plan, citing the nation's high debt, deficits, inflation, and borrowing costs.
“doesn’t exist solely on the government’s ledgers”
Maya MacGuineas · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-12
MacGuineas issued a statement about the US national debt surpassing $40 trillion.
“The more we borrow, the more we exacerbate inflation, squeeze out other priorities in the budget, and leave ourselves vulnerable to emergencies at home and turmoil abroad.”
Maya MacGuineas · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-12
MacGuineas warned in a statement about the consequences of continued borrowing.
“At that time, President [Ronald] Reagan told the nation in a televised address, 'If we as a nation needed a warning, let that be it',”
Maya MacGuineas · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-20
MacGuineas recounted President Reagan's 1981 televised warning after US debt first reached $1tn.
“Jumping to America's 250th year, we are spending more than that just on interest payments on our debt.”
Maya MacGuineas · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-20
MacGuineas compared today's interest payments to the historic $1tn debt milestone.
“finds its way to the pocketbooks of people one way or another,”
Maya MacGuineas · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-20
MacGuineas said the impact of the national debt ultimately reaches ordinary consumers.
“For perspective, it took nearly 200 years for America’s gross debt to reach $1 trillion for the first time in 1981,”
Maya MacGuineas · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-19
MacGuineas commented on the milestone of US debt reaching $40tn in a statement.
“$40 trillion of debt doesn’t exist solely on the government’s ledgers; it is felt throughout the economy and finds its way to the pocketbooks of people one way or another. The more we borrow, the more we exacerbate inflation, squeeze out other priorities in the budget, and leave ourselves vulnerable to emergencies at home and turmoil abroad.”
Maya MacGuineas · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-19
MacGuineas warned about the broader economic effects of the $40tn debt milestone in a statement.
“To require no offsets in this budget is baffling.”
Maya MacGuineas · said date not stated · reported 2026-07-15
Maya MacGuineas said she found the lack of offsets in the budget baffling.
“With interest costs, the reconciliation bill could add more than $100 billion to the debt over the next decade,”
Maya MacGuineas · said date not stated · reported 2026-07-15
Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said the reconciliation bill could add more than $100 billion to the debt over the next decade.