 In the spring of 2010, Reed took a leave of absence from the DLC to become Executive Director of President National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (Simpson-Bowles Commission), the commission tasked with finding a path to a balanced budget during the Great Recession.As Executive Director, Reed allowed senior staff members of the Simpson-Bowles Commission to be paid by Blackstone founder Pete Peterson.The Simpson-Bowles Commission notably proposed cuts to Social Security and Medicare.