WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. population is projected to grow by merely 15 million over the next 30 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report released Wednesday. This estimate reflects a notable decrease caused by hard-line immigration policies under President Donald Trump and the challenges associated with an aging population.
The CBO forecasts that the U.S. population will reach 364 million by 2056, which is about 2.2% below last year's predictions. Notably, a prior CBO update indicated that Trump's aggressive deportation agenda could see about 320,000 individuals removed from the U.S. within the next decade.
Additionally, the population is expected to plateau around 2056 and might even begin to decline post-2030 without the influence of immigration. The demographic expert, William Frey of the Brookings Institution, stated that even with future changes in immigration policies, the nation is facing a demographic upheaval that could have lasting implications.
As the baby boomer generation ages, Social Security and Medicare systems may come under increasing strain, given that fewer workers will be present in the labor force to contribute taxes. By the decade's end, nearly all baby boomers will be over 65, intensifying these issues.
Researchers highlight that decreasing birth rates are also contributing factors to this projected stagnation in growth, as lower fertility rates will further influence the future workforce dynamics.
Under the Trump administration, immigration policies have consistently aimed to curtail influxes, marked by bans on immigrants from specific countries and extensive deportation efforts. Various measures, including a significant funding allocation in Trump's tax and spending legislation, have been directed toward enforcing immigration restrictions.
Given that U.S. population forecasting is significantly influenced by immigration trends, the CBO's latest projections reflect ongoing uncertainties regarding the effects of current and future immigration policies on population growth.
