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Bessent backs 3% deficit goal despite 5% budget forecasts

Bessent told lawmakers he aims to reduce the federal deficit to 3% of GDP, even as official projections point to a roughly 5% deficit.

Published Jun 6, 2026, 12:08 PM EDT | WFMZZ

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told lawmakers in two congressional hearings this week he aims to cut the federal deficit to 3% of GDP. The government's own budget projections currently forecast a deficit near 5%, a gap that would need to close for the target to be met.