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United States national debt surpasses $40.5 trillion
The United States national debt has reached a new record high, surpassing $40.5 trillion. According to data from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the debt stood at approximately $40.528 trillion as of late October 2026.
This increase follows a period of rapid growth; the debt surpassed the $40 trillion mark on August 18, 2026, and has since grown by an additional $500 billion. For comparison, the national debt was approximately $19.8 trillion in 2016, meaning the total has more than doubled in a decade.
The Congressional Budget Office projects that ongoing budget deficits could drive federal debt to record levels relative to national income over the next ten years. Long-term projections suggest that without policy changes, the debt could reach 155 percent of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) within 30 years.
Entities
Congressional Budget Office · Donald Trump · U.S. Department of the Treasury · United States · United States Department of the Treasury
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The U.S. national debt reached $40.528 trillion as of October 26, 2026. qactus.fr · sputniknews.cn
- [○ 1 SOURCE] U.S. national debt surpassed $40 trillion on August 18, 2026. sputniknews.cn
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The U.S. national debt has more than doubled since 2016. sputniknews.cn
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The national debt was approximately $19.8 trillion in 2016. sputniknews.cn
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Congressional Budget Office projects federal debt could reach 155 percent of GDP in 30 years. www.brisbanetimes.com.au · www.smh.com.au