Why compromise is inevitable for Biden’s big infrastructure plans

Last week, President Joe Biden unveiled a federal budget totaling $6 trillion, which includes significant new spending on infrastructure. If passed in its entirety, the budget would increase federal spending as a portion of the economy to historic heights — reaching sustained levels not seen since World War II. In this Q&A, Thomas Gift examines the implications of this proposed rise in federal spending, the centrality of infrastructure to the budget, and whether the White House and other Democrats can broker a compromise with Republicans.