The United States is nearly $40 trillion in debt. And when a nation starts spending more on financing its debt than it does on national security — a moment the U.S. has reached — that is a sign the nation will not be a great one going forward.
A fiscal crisis is looming, but it can be addressed.
Across two packed days of community and classroom discussions, workshops, budget simulations and more, leading fiscal policy thought leaders examined annual deficits, federal spending, revenues, possible solutions and much more.
The Daniels School's March 24-25, 2026, programming began with a roundtable at Indianapolis’ OneAmerica Tower. State lawmakers, alumni, students, industry leaders and more gathered in the Skyline Club to hear from a panel of three, moderated by Purdue Associate Professor of Political Science Jesse Crosson. Organized by the business school's Cornerstone for Business initiative, the panel featured President Emeritus of Purdue University and former Governor of Indiana Mitch Daniels; Concord Coalition Executive Director Carolyn Bourdeaux; and American Action Forum President Doug Holtz-Eakin.
Later that first day in Indianapolis, Concord Coalition National Field Director Phil Smith led a budget simulation in which small groups of attendees evaluated federal spending and revenue options and grappled with the same difficult tradeoffs facing policymakers. Smith led a similar workshop for students on Purdue's West Lafayette campus the following day.
Day two also included an "Inside the Capitol" session for Daniels School students from Bourdeaux and Holtz-Eakin — how does one navigate Congress and what does it take to launch a career in public service? — and a Purdue University Research Center in Economics presentation by Bourdeaux on a possible future fiscal checkmate.
Hear more from Bourdeaux, who sat down with the school's Daniels Insights blog while on campus, and Holtz-Eakin, a Daniels School Distinguished Fellow who tackles policy issues in his Daily Dish.
