Warren Buffett\'s 5-Minute Plan to End the US Deficit: Could He Really Do It?
Legendary investor Warren Buffett believes he has a surprisingly simple solution to the complex problem of the US deficit. In a 2025 interview with CNBC\'s Becky Quick, he made a bold claim: "I could end the deficit in five minutes.” But how?
Buffett\'s plan, while perhaps a touch tongue-in-cheek, centers around accountability for politicians. He argues that the key is to ensure elected representatives in Congress feel the direct consequences of excessive spending.
Buffett Explains: The 3% Solution
So, what\'s the secret ingredient to Buffett\'s five-minute fix? According to Buffett, “I could end the deficit in five minutes,” he told CNBC’s Becky Quick in a 2025 interview. “You just pass a law that says that any time there\'s a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting…" (We\'ll get to the rest in a moment!).
The core of his idea is simple: Make sure politicians actually feel the consequences of their spending habits. He said he could fix the U.S. deficit in five minutes. His idea? You just pass a law that…
The Missing Piece: Consequences for Congress
Warrren Buffett talks to Becky Quick about the US deficit and how it can be fixed just by setting the right incentives for elected representatives in Congress. In an interview, Buffett said, “I could end the deficit in five minutes. You just pass a law that says that any time there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting…"
While details of exactly what happens when the deficit exceeds 3% of GDP were not fully elaborated on in the available snippet, the underlying principle is clear. Buffett\'s approach highlights the critical need for fiscal responsibility and the importance of tying political action to real-world economic outcomes.
Warren Buffett says he could fix the U.S. deficit problem very quickly. Here\'s his not-entirely serious (but not entirely joking either) plan, as told to Becky Quick during this... what if scenario. The full transcript of the interview is not available here, but the general sentiment and the core concept of accountability are.
Ultimately, while the specifics remain somewhat ambiguous, Buffett\'s "five-minute" plan serves as a powerful reminder that addressing the US deficit requires innovative thinking and a commitment to holding those in power responsible for their financial decisions. In a 2025 interview with CNBC\'s Becky Quick, legendary investor Warren Buffett made a bold claim: I could end the deficit in five minutes. His proposed solution?