---
title: "Prove you can do better — Balance the Budget"
description: "Think you can do better than Congress? Take on a $1.99 trillion deficit and 100 simulated senators. Write a bill and get 51 yes votes. Free."
url: "https://www.balance-the-budget.finance/"
site: "Balance the Budget"
updated: "2026-11-10"
---

# The US is 2 trillion in debt. Can you balance the budget?

Here's the federal budget and 100 senators. Good luck.

[▶ Give it a shot](https://www.balance-the-budget.finance/play)

## The challenge

1. Write a bill. Any bill.
2. Get 51 senators to say yes.
3. Close a $1.99 trillion hole.
4. Easy, right?

## Most people get an F.

Balancing the budget is really hard. That's kind of the point.

F

Adds to the deficit, or closes under 10%Welcome to Washington.

D

Closes 10–25%A start.

C

Closes 25–50%Now we're talking.

B

Closes 50–75%Seriously impressive.

A

Closes 75–99%Call your representative. Actually, they should call you.

S

Deficit at or below $0Nobody has done this yet.

## The best bills so far

1. D[ZFine](https://www.balance-the-budget.finance/leaderboard/d033c0327047)$357.1B (17.9%) closed, 51-49
2. D[Marco](https://www.balance-the-budget.finance/leaderboard/2674ba46bcba)$395.4B (19.8%) closed, 42-58
3. D[Marco](https://www.balance-the-budget.finance/leaderboard/2069d20b61a3)$207B (10.4%) closed, 46-54

[See the whole board](https://www.balance-the-budget.finance/leaderboard)

## Ready when you are.

[▶ Give it a shot](https://www.balance-the-budget.finance/play)

Free. No sign-up. 20 bills a day.

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