EXCLUSIVE: With President Donald Trump preparing to address Congress Tuesday night, the Concord Coalition has launched a new advocacy group, Concord Action, aimed at pressuring lawmakers to tackle the United States' staggering $36 trillion debt. The group's message to Trump? Show you're serious about fixing the fiscal mess.

Carolyn Bourdeaux, a former Democratic congresswoman from Georgia and now the executive director of Concord Action, challenged Trump in an exclusive interview to lead a bipartisan charge to confront the debt crisis. "I'd like to hear that he's really serious about putting everything on the table and reaching across the aisle," Bourdeaux said. "This needs to be a bipartisan effort."

Bourdeaux, who previously worked with Republicans to balance Georgia's state budget during the Great Recession, stressed the need for a meticulous approach to federal spending. She called for a line-by-line review of government programs to eliminate waste and inefficiency while also addressing tax reforms.

"It needs to be a thoughtful effort," she urged. "Balancing the budget isn’t just about cutting waste, fraud, and abuse. That’s not enough. We need to go through every program, including mandatory spending, and find savings. And yes, the tax side has to be part of the conversation too."

Concerns about the economy remain at the forefront for voters. According to a 2024 Fox News Voter Analysis, inflation topped the list of voter priorities, with two-thirds of respondents rating the economy as "not good" or "poor." Bourdeaux insisted that tackling the debt is possible, pointing to the bipartisan budget surpluses achieved during the Clinton administration in the 1990s. "If we’ve done it before, we can do it again," she said.

The Trump administration, however, has been touting its own efforts to rein in spending. Deputy White House Press Secretary Harrison Fields stated, "Since day one, President Trump has prioritized government efficiency, proper stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and the goal of signing a long-overdue balanced budget."

A cornerstone of Trump's strategy is the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by none other than Elon Musk. Created via executive order on Inauguration Day, DOGE has reportedly identified $105 billion in savings through measures like contract cancellations, workforce cuts, and eliminating improper payments. While Republicans have applauded the department's aggressive tactics, some Democrats argue its approach is too heavy-handed.

Yet, DOGE's influence extends beyond Washington. From San Francisco's push to bring employees back to the office to the Environmental Protection Agency's discovery of $20 billion in wasteful spending, the ripple effects are being felt nationwide. Legislative support for fiscal responsibility is also growing. Bipartisan efforts such as the Payment Integrity Information Reform Act aim to curb federal overpayments, while the Senate DOGE Caucus, established last year, works closely with Musk's department to promote accountability.

Bourdeaux remains determined to see a concrete plan emerge from Trump's speech. "Right now, nobody has a serious plan on the table," she said. "We need to set one up and start executing it." Her call for action is clear: it’s time for both sides to sit down and figure out how to stop the nation’s fiscal bleeding.

Debt Crisis News

Trump Urged by Fiscal Watchdog to Prove Commitment to $36 Trillion Debt Crisis