Joe supports ITEP in monitoring federal tax policies. His research focuses on progressive tax priorities to ensure corporations and the ultra wealthy pay their fair share. Prior to joining ITEP in 2021, Joe worked at the Congressional Research Service and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. He completed a master’s in applied economics at George Washington University and undergraduate studies at the University of Tennessee.
Recent Publications
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June Budget Report Doesn’t Erase Our Nation’s Fiscal Challenges
July 15, 2025 • By Joe Hughes
Nobody should be too excited and think this means our country is headed toward lower deficits - especially when the administration recently signed one of the most expensive budget reconciliation bills in history.
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There Were Far Cheaper and Fairer Options Than the Trump Megabill
July 8, 2025 • By Jessica Vela, Joe Hughes, Steve Wamhoff
Congress and the president could have spent less than half that much money on a tax bill that does more for working-class and middle-class households.
Recent Media Mentions
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Yahoo Finance: Child Tax Credit Gets Small Boost in Trump's Tax Bill, but Millions of Families Are Left Out
July 7, 2025 • By Joe Hughes
The popular child tax credit will receive a slight boost from President Trump’s signature tax and spending bill – but there are caveats.
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Houston Chronicle: The Biggest Winners in Texas from Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’
July 1, 2025 • By Joe Hughes
Most every Texan stands to see at least some benefit from the tax cuts at the heart of President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” But the biggest benefits are geared toward the wealthiest people, who will not only continue to enjoy hefty tax cuts but also gain access to a host…
