What's Baghdad Hassett Going to Do?

Kevin Hassett, the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers

Two senators have asked Kevin Hassett, the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, to hand over an internal analysis showing how tariffs could hurt economic growth, reports the New York Times.

The internal analysis, which was first reported by The New York Times last week, contradicts the public statements of several Trump administration officials who have said that Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on aluminum, steel and a broad array of Chinese products will not dampen economic growth. The existence of such a study has raised questions about whether the Trump administration is pursuing policies that its own experts know is at odds with economic reality, reports NYT.


Senator Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, and Senator Claire McCaskill, a Democrat from Missouri, sent a letter to Kevin Hassett, chairman of the council, asking him to hand over any research on tariffs by June 27. The two senators, who sent the letter on Wednesday, lead the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

-RW