CBO Director Phillip Swagel Stands Firm Amid Political Criticism

Mon Sep 29 2025 00:17:43 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In an interview, CBO Director Phillip Swagel addresses the agency's role and the challenges faced amid rising scrutiny from political leaders.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Director Phillip Swagel responded to intense criticism from political figures including Speaker Mike Johnson and President Trump, emphasizing the agency's commitment to nonpartisan analysis. Swagel discussed the complexities of interpreting economic models under unprecedented circumstances, including tariffs and immigration reforms, while calling for a focus on the facts without political bias.

WASHINGTON (RTWNews) – The summer debates surrounding Republicans' tax and spending cut legislation have led to heightened scrutiny of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), a nonpartisan agency tasked with providing economic analysis for Congress. Director Phillip Swagel has found himself at the center of a political storm, facing harsh critiques from influential figures, including Speaker Mike Johnson, who labeled the CBO as 'notorious for getting it wrong,' and President Trump, who referred to it as 'very hostile.'

In an interview with RTWNews, Swagel mentioned, 'We're just trying to get it right and inform Congress and the country. There’s no agenda here,' reiterating the agency's commitment to accuracy amidst the barrage of criticism.

Since his appointment in 2019, Swagel has embraced a low-key approach in navigating the politically charged environment. A trained economist with extensive experience, he acknowledges the challenges facing the CBO in a time of radical policy shifts, particularly regarding tariffs and immigration reform.

The challenge of doing analysis now is the changes we’re seeing in our economy are really large, Swagel stated. Trump's recent sweeping tariffs are unprecedented and could significantly impact further analyses. The CBO has projected that these tariffs might reduce the national deficit by $4 trillion over the next decade, positioning them as a crucial factor alongside the massive tax and spending cuts that are currently being debated.

Swagel emphasized that while immigration can contribute positively to GDP, the fiscal pressures it creates at the state and local levels pose another layer of complexity. His objective remains clear: to provide unbiased data devoid of political influence.

As tensions rise around the CBO's reports and predictions, Swagel calls for an understanding of the need for factual, dispassionate analysis in a highly politicized environment, reminding us that the agency's role is to present 'the facts' to Congress rather than to dictate policy decisions.

'It’s important for the country to have a group of analysts who don’t have an opinion – who are just saying, ‘Here’s the facts,’' he concluded, highlighting the need for integrity in economic assessments amidst political turbulence.