The White House is drawing attention to the economic impact of the Democratic Socialists of America's 2026 platform, stating that seven of its policies would add approximately $49 trillion to federal deficits over ten years.
That figure translates to roughly $355,000 for every American household, paid through higher taxes, crushing debt, or both, according to a post from the official White House account.
"REMINDER: 7 of the policies in the Democratic Socialists of America's 2026 platform would add $49T to federal deficits. That's $355,000 PER American household, paid through higher taxes, crushing debt, or both," the White House wrote.
The Real Cost of Socialism
The White House linked to a page on its website titled "The real cost of socialism to your family," which details the DSA's "Workers Deserve More" program and its major policy commitments.
According to the page, about $4.9 trillion per year would have to be financed either by borrowing or by tax increases. The White House Council of Economic Advisers estimated the effects of both paths, warning that both are "dramatically costly for Americans' pocketbooks."
Beyond the Fiscal Cost
The DSA platform also calls for abolishing the police and the prison system. Policies to reduce police staffing, reclassify felonies as misdemeanors, and shorten sentences are associated with higher crime where they have been implemented, the White House states, citing fixed-effect regressions.
The public-safety pillar is not scored in fiscal terms because it is assessed through its effect on crime and the social and economic costs that follow. The page notes that each additional crime per 100 people per year is associated with 110 fewer days of life expectancy, 173 more deaths per 100,000, and a 0.73-point rise in child poverty.
"The real cost of socialism," the White House concluded.
