The American Opportunity Agenda Is Key to Advancing America’s Economic Freedom

When economic freedom advances, prosperity follows.

That critical relationship is the underlying finding of the Heritage Foundation’s 2026 Index of Economic Freedom, an annual benchmark study that assesses and compares economic policy environments of countries around the world. The latest edition of the Index points out, yet again, that what really matters is the direction and orientation of policy—in other words, the change at the margin.

It is notable that the United States recorded the greatest improvement in the 2026 Index “amongst advanced economies.” America’s score has risen by over 2.5 points from last year, reversing the precipitous decline in economic freedom under the Biden era and marking the most significant improvement since 2001.

But the U.S. can still do even better than that.

Indeed, that is why now is the time for Congress to advance a principled economic agenda that will further restore America’s economic freedom and amplify it by adopting a series of conservative policy recommendations that will ensure the critical interplay of freedom, opportunity, and prosperity.

The pragmatic first step toward putting into action such an economic agenda is to use the power of budget reconciliation to enact much-needed spending reforms in the coming weeks.

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As detailed in the Heritage Foundation’s recent special report, “Setting the American Opportunity Agenda,” it is imperative that Congress use the power of budget reconciliation to enact spending reforms that will deliver relief for the American people. In doing so, Congress will signal a continued commitment to the pro-growth economic agenda that has seen tremendous success under the Trump administration.

In keeping with President Donald Trump’s economic agenda to restore and enhance America’s entrepreneurial growth and prosperity, Congress must not stand in the way of spending reforms that will lower taxes, further decrease regulation, and unleash the abundance of American energy and the prosperity that will follow.

As Daniel Kowalski, director of the Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget, who is the principal author of the special report, noted, “The American people expect reforms that reinforce economic security, uphold the rule of law, and ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent responsibly.”

It is in America’s national interest to pursue an economic agenda that lowers costs, supports families, and fosters the economic freedom necessary for flourishing. As it stands, the Republican Party controls the House of Representatives, Senate, and White House. In a moment such as this, Congress must use budget reconciliation to reform health care, welfare, and taxation to enact meaningful reforms. The options outlined in the Heritage Special Report will save the American people $1.5 trillion in the coming decade.

As America’s score has risen on the Index of Economic Freedom, the use of budget reconciliation is another pragmatic opportunity to further reverse the five-year economic decline facilitated by the previous administration’s misguided and failed “Bidenomics.” At this critical juncture, Congress must use budget reconciliation to act on this.

The bottom line is that many Americans want to raise families, educate children, and grow businesses without constant government interference. But these pursuits are unachievable when dealing with soaring prices.

Even if every American citizen valued marriage and family, it is not possible for most Americans to follow through when the cost of living exceeds the limits of a paycheck. Instead of penalizing the choice to marry and start a family, Congress must use budget reconciliation to move closer to a society that encourages marriage. Our society should support American families by allowing them to enjoy education, the free market, rule of law, private property, limited government, and all other fruits of economic freedom.

Economic freedom is not an end in and of itself. Economic freedom and the prosperity that follows are best measured by the experience of Americans working hard to serve their families and communities.

Economic freedom should not be measured by the stock market and GDP alone, but by the preservation of strong families, communities, ordered liberty, personal responsibility, and the dignity of work.

Congress must use budget reconciliation to enact spending reforms that will allow the American people to pursue these fruits of economic freedom.

Heritage Foundation and Heritage Action president, Dr. Kevin Roberts, recently underscored that “Congress should now build on [its] momentum through a Reconciliation 3.0 package that advances affordability, accountability, and opportunity for the American people while continuing to strengthen America at home and abroad.”

Indeed, now is the time to act in order to ensure that economic freedom and prosperity flourish in our nation.