Over the first half of 2026, I have had the opportunity to participate in a variety of discussions about CBO's work and the nation's fiscal and economic outlook as the agency has continued supporting Congress with analyses of issues related to the federal budget, the economy, health care, and national security.
Many of those events focused on the budget, deficits, and debt. In January, I joined a panel discussion on federal debt and the long-term fiscal outlook at Wharton's Future of Finance Forum, and I also spoke with investors and business leaders at events hosted by J.P. Morgan Chase and the Real Estate Roundtable.
In February and April, I participated in discussions with economists, investors, and international policy experts about the budget and economic outlook at events hosted by the National Association for Business Economics, J.P. Morgan Chase, and the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum. I also delivered a virtual guest lecture for a class at the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School. Those conversations offered opportunities to walk through CBO's projections and explain how the agency approaches its work.
Health policy was another recurring topic this year. In May, I joined an event hosted by the Paragon Health Institute to discuss CBO's projections for federal health care programs and recent developments affecting Medicare and prescription drug spending.
More recently, I participated in discussions with business and policy leaders at events hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Committee for Economic Development, where topics included the economic outlook, fiscal policy, and trade-offs facing policymakers.
These engagements offer a valuable opportunity to explain CBO's role, answer questions about the agency's analyses, and hear directly from the wide range of people who rely on our work. I look forward to continuing those conversations in the months ahead.
Phillip L. Swagel is CBO's Director.