House Republicans narrowly passed a multi-trillion-dollar budget bill that seeks to extend tax cuts, increase defense and immigration enforcement spending, and trim $2 trillion in government spending over the next decade. The bill represents a necessary course correction from the reckless fiscal policies of the Biden administration, but let’s be clear: while it’s a step in the right direction, it does far too little to address the long-term trajectory of America’s financial crisis.

The bill rightly prioritizes national security, tax relief, and some modest spending cuts. But at the same time, it avoids the truly difficult decisions that must be made to prevent America from spiraling into a European-style debt crisis. While Democrats scream about “draconian cuts” that barely scratch the surface, the real issue is that both parties continue to spend money America doesn’t have. If we don’t get serious about reforming entitlement programs and cutting government bloat, this nation will eventually reach a breaking point.

Spending Cuts: A Necessary Start, But Not Enough

Liberals are already screaming that this bill will “gut” essential programs, but the reality is quite different. Over the next ten years, the federal government is projected to spend $86 trillion. Cutting $2 trillion from that total is not “austerity”; it’s a rounding error. The mainstream media, of course, will frame this as an attack on the poor, but what’s really happening is a mild attempt to rein in out-of-control spending.

Democrats and their media allies love to frame any attempt at fiscal responsibility as “harming the most vulnerable,” but they ignore the fact that much of the spending they defend is riddled with fraud, waste, and abuse. The Medicaid program alone is plagued with improper payments, lack of oversight, and incentives that often reward dependency rather than helping people get back on their feet. House Republicans should be looking to reform these programs, not just trim around the edges. Work requirements, fraud reduction, and restructuring Medicaid expansion are all necessary measures that should be on the table.

At the same time, let’s be honest about the elephant in the room: this budget does not deal with the biggest drivers of our national debt—Social Security and Medicare. Why? Because both parties are afraid to touch them. The American people, understandably, don’t want their retirement benefits threatened, but the fact remains that these programs are unsustainable in their current form. Until we get serious about entitlement reform, no amount of spending cuts elsewhere will make a meaningful difference in the long-term debt crisis.

Ben Shapiro is correct in his assessment: eventually, the United States will be forced into European-style austerity measures. The longer we delay making responsible reforms, the more painful those cuts will be when the crisis finally arrives.

Tax Cuts: Good for Families, Good for the Economy

One of the best aspects of this budget is its extension of the Trump tax cuts, which are set to expire soon. The left predictably argues that tax cuts “only benefit the rich,” but that is a gross distortion of reality. The Trump tax cuts nearly doubled the standard deduction, which directly benefited middle-class families. If those cuts expire, the average American will see their taxes increase—and yet, somehow, liberals claim that rolling them back would be “fair.”

The U.S. tax system is already highly progressive, with the top 1% of earners paying over 30% of all federal taxes. If Democrats truly believed in fairness, they wouldn’t be pushing for higher taxes on people who already shoulder most of the burden. The truth is, the left isn’t interested in “fairness”—they’re interested in wealth redistribution.

And let’s not forget the economic impact of tax relief. When businesses and individuals keep more of their own money, they invest, hire, and expand. Lowering corporate taxes doesn’t just help “the rich”—it encourages job creation, wage growth, and overall economic expansion. History has repeatedly shown that cutting taxes fuels economic growth. The left refuses to acknowledge this because it undermines their big-government narrative.

That said, the libertarians do have a point: cutting taxes without equally cutting spending only adds to the debt. The best solution is to cut both taxes and spending, but Washington has never had the discipline to do that. This is why real conservatives argue for shrinking the size of government—not just adjusting tax rates.

Military and Border Security: Spending That Actually Matters

If there is one area where increased spending is justified, it’s national defense and border security. Unlike government handouts and bloated welfare programs, these are constitutional responsibilities of the federal government. Democrats have no problem pouring billions into gender studies programs and foreign aid, yet they balk at the idea of strengthening our military or securing our borders.

The additional $100 billion allocated for military and immigration enforcement is not waste—it’s an investment in protecting America. The southern border is a disaster, with millions of illegal crossings, skyrocketing drug trafficking, and human smuggling operations running rampant. It is a moral and national security necessity to stop the flood of illegal immigration. Sanctuary city policies and weak enforcement have already turned parts of the country into lawless zones, burdening taxpayers and straining local resources.

The media loves to frame border security as an issue of compassion, but what about compassion for the American citizens whose towns are being overrun by illegal immigration? What about the compassion for families who have lost loved ones to fentanyl overdoses because the drug is pouring across an unsecured border? Enforcing the law is compassion—it protects our nation’s citizens and sovereignty.

The Real Problem: Both Parties Love to Spend

The sad truth is that neither Republicans nor Democrats are truly serious about reducing the national debt. Republicans talk about fiscal responsibility, but when they’re in power, they shy away from making the difficult choices. Democrats, on the other hand, don’t even pretend to care about fiscal responsibility. They believe there’s an endless supply of taxpayer money for their progressive pet projects.

This budget is better than the alternative, but it still fails to address the root problem: America is living beyond its means. We are borrowing trillions of dollars every year to fund government programs that are unsustainable. We are saddling future generations with debt they can never repay. The U.S. government’s spending habits would make a drunken gambler blush, yet Washington continues pretending that everything is fine.

Libertarians are right to point out that extending tax cuts while running massive deficits is irresponsible. But the real solution isn’t higher taxes—it’s less government. The federal government has become an overgrown beast, meddling in every aspect of American life while accumulating trillions in debt. Until we shrink the size and scope of government, no budget will truly fix the problem.

Final Verdict: A Step Forward, But Not a Real Solution

House Republicans have put forward a budget that is better than the alternative, but still falls short of real fiscal responsibility. Extending tax cuts is a win for families and businesses. Increasing military and border security funding is necessary for national defense. But the spending cuts are too small, and the long-term debt crisis remains unaddressed.

If America does not take serious action to rein in spending, we will face a European-style debt crisis within the next decade. Kicking the can down the road is no longer an option. This budget is a step in the right direction—but unless real reforms happen soon, America’s economic future will be bleak.

It’s time for conservatives to stop compromising and start demanding real fiscal responsibility. The survival of our nation depends on it.