Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) national co-chair Megan Romer has dismissed a White House estimate that DSA policy proposals could cost American taxpayers $49 trillion. The Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) report, which included proposals like Medicare for All and student debt cancellation, suggested the DSA's agenda would cost approximately $355,000 per household over the next decade.
Romer, speaking on Fox News, called the $49 trillion figure "outrageous" and a "made-up number," asserting that the White House "does not like us very much" and generated figures to make the DSA look unfavorable. When pressed for an alternative estimate, Romer declined to provide a specific number, stating that the cost would depend on the phased implementation of programs. "We don't agree with these numbers," she said.
During the interview, Romer also criticized the scale of U.S. military spending, suggesting that resources allocated to overseas operations could be better directed toward domestic policy priorities. "We don't believe in having 800 U.S. military bases around the world," Romer stated, calling the spending "insane" and primarily benefiting "defense contractors" and "a handful of billionaires."
Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum countered that the U.S. defense budget is approximately $961 billion, significantly less than the estimated cost of the DSA's policy platform. Romer argued that providing healthcare for all would cost less than current military expenditures and ongoing overseas conflicts.
Romer previously expressed support for abolishing the Senate, replacing the presidency and Supreme Court, eliminating Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and enacting amnesty for undocumented immigrants.