CBO estimated in June 2008 that Fannie and Freddie might cost taxpayers up to $25 billion with a 50/50 chance of zero, but by 2009-2010 the CBO estimate had risen to roughly $390 billion (versus the Treasury/GAO figure of about $145 billion due to different accounting), and is likely to keep rising.

factualpending

Speaker

Russ Roberts

Evidence Quote

the CBO said that Fannie and Freddie might cost the taxpayers as much as twenty five billion dollars but there was a 50/50 chance that would be zero... now for 2009 and 2010 it's a three hundred and ninety billion

Source

Arnold Kling on the Unseen World of Banking, Mortgages, and Government 07/5/2010EconTalk
Created: 6/13/2026, 7:04:06 PM

My Notes

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