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Leadership

Donald Trump’s Plans Would Add $5.3 Trillion to the National Debt

By
Haley Sweetland Edwards
Haley Sweetland Edwards
and
TIME
TIME
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By
Haley Sweetland Edwards
Haley Sweetland Edwards
and
TIME
TIME
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September 22, 2016, 7:02 AM ET
Donald Trump Campaigns In Estero, Florida
ESTERO, FL - SEPTEMBER 19: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Germain Arena on September 19, 2016 in Estero, Florida. Trump is locked in a tight race against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in Florida as the November 8th election nears.Photograph by Joe Raedle—Getty Images
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This article originally appeared on Time.com.

If you add up all of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s preliminary policy proposals—from increasing defense spending to creating a new childcare program—then subtract the amount of money he plans to raise with his tax plan, the result is some serious red ink.

According to an analysis by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Government, Trump’s plans would contribute $5.3 trillion to the national debt. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s plans, by comparison, would only increase the debt by $200 billion.

Since the national debt is currently around $19.5 trillion, according to the federal Office of Management and Budget, Trump’s plans would increase it by more than a fourth, while Clinton’s would increase it by just 1%, under the analysis.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Government’s analysis is an update to its previous report Promises and Price Tags: A Fiscal Guide the 2016 Election, published in June, which analyzed the cost of every Trump and Clinton proposal on record at the time. The most recent update reflects both candidates’ amended plans as reported as of September 21, 2016. It also excludes any calculation of economic impact.

The report finds that Trump’s plan would result in an overall reduction in non-interest federal spending (that is, all government outlays not spent servicing U.S. debts) by about $1.2 trillion over the next decade. He would do that by cutting Obamacare, Medicaid and other non-defense spending. But he would also slash about $5.8 trillion in revenue through his tax proposal, according the report.

See also: Trump Opposes Plan for U.S. to Cede Internet Oversight

While Trump has simultaneously advocated for two different tax plans, his most recent proposal would result in a roughly $4.5 trillion reduction in revenue from cuts to individual and business taxes, and another $1.2 trillion from repealing taxes that pay for Obamacare, the report found.

Clinton’s plan, in contrast, would increase federal spending by about $1.65 trillion over the next decade. That includes a $500 billion outlay on her new college education program and $300 billion each on paid family leave and infrastructure. But Clinton’s plan would also boost revenue—to the tune of about $1.5 trillion—by significantly increasing taxes on very high income earners and businesses.

Under Clinton, the national debt would rise to above 86% of GDP, the report said, while under Trump, it would top 105%.

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By Haley Sweetland Edwards
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