The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are advocating for federal government initiatives that could collectively cost upwards of $200 trillion over the next decade, according to a report from the Cato Institute. This level of spending, the report estimates, could push government expenditure to 57% of GDP, a substantial increase from the approximately 33.8% of GDP spent in 2025.
The DSA has proposed a range of programs funded by what they describe as "aggressive wealth taxes on the richest individuals and corporations." However, the Cato Institute report suggests that such taxes would only cover a fraction of the proposed spending. Adam N. Michel, the report's author, stated that the DSA's proposals are "mathematically impossible" and involve a "bigger government and saying someone else will pay for it."
Among the most costly proposals cited in the report are universal healthcare, with estimated costs ranging from $39.9 trillion to $75.4 trillion over ten years, and slavery reparations, projected to cost between $13.5 trillion and $28 trillion. A federal jobs guarantee is also a significant expense, estimated at $4.4 trillion to $60.4 trillion. If all proposed initiatives were implemented at their highest estimates, government spending could reach 92% of GDP.
Michel characterized the scale of these proposals as "closer to Soviet-style communism than European welfare states." The DSA has seen electoral successes in recent years, with members winning seats in Congress and local offices, including the New York City Mayor's office with Zohran Mamdani.
