March 16, 2026
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Representative,
On behalf of the more than one million members and supporters of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW), I urge you to vote in favor of H.J. Res. 139, a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the federal government.
Taxpayers and America’s financial security are at risk as the federal budget remains on a dangerous trajectory. The Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) 2026-2037 Budget and Economic Outlook shows an estimated $1.85 trillion budget deficit in fiscal year (FY) 2026, an increase of $78 billion over FY 2025. By FY 2036, CBO expects the budget deficit to grow to 6.7 percent of GDP, which is 76 percent more than the average of 3.8 percent over the past 50 years. Between FYs 2026 and 2036, gross federal debt is projected to rise by 62 percent, from $39.4 trillion in 2026 to $63.7 trillion in 2036. Net interest on the debt will average $1.5 trillion during that same period and continue to surpass every other area of federal spending other than Social Security and Medicare. This significant growth in the debt and continued accumulation of interest places America’s finances in a precarious position and disarray.
Passing H.J. Res. 139 is an essential step to enshrine a balanced federal budget in the Constitution. It would help rein in federal spending and encourage fiscal responsibility by both the legislative and executive branches of government. For these reasons, I again urge you to vote in favor of H.J. Res. 139. All votes related to this joint resolution may be among those considered for CCAGW’s 2026 Congressional Ratings.
Sincerely,
Tom Schatz
President, CCAGW