United States national debt surpasses $40 trillion

US national debt fiscal deficit Treasury yields Trump administration macroeconomics

The United States national debt has officially surpassed the $40 trillion milestone, reaching approximately $40.047 trillion on August 18, 2026. This surge occurs during the first 19 months of Donald Trump's second term, despite administration efforts to reduce federal spending and eliminate government waste.

For the first time in U.S. history, annual interest payments on the national debt have exceeded $1 trillion, a figure that now surpasses the federal budget for national defense. This rising debt burden is compounded by high Treasury yields, which have reached multi-decade highs, increasing the cost of new borrowing.

Fiscal analysts point to several drivers of this accumulation. Tax cuts from the first Trump term added an estimated $8.4 trillion to the debt, while new tax and immigration legislation in the second term has added approximately $4.7 trillion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Long-term projections remain concerning. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that debt will reach $64 trillion by 2036. Furthermore, the Government Accountability Office warns that if current spending and revenue policies remain unchanged, debt held by the public could reach 251% of GDP by 2056.

Entities

Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget · Congressional Budget Office · Donald Trump · Elon Musk · Maya MacGuineas · Scott Bessent · United States · United States Treasury · United States government

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] US public debt officially surpassed the US$ 40 trillion mark on August 18, 2026. revistaforum.com.br · www.fool.com · cryptobriefing.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Annual interest payments on the US national debt have exceeded US$ 1 trillion for the first time. cryptobriefing.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] If current policies remain unchanged, debt held by the public could reach 251% of GDP by 2056. cryptobriefing.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The new tax and immigration legislation in the second Trump term added US$ 4.7 trillion to the debt. circuitomt.com.br · www.spacemoney.com.br
[● 2 SOURCES] Tax cuts from the first Trump term added US$ 8.4 trillion to the national debt. circuitomt.com.br · www.spacemoney.com.br
[● 4 SOURCES] There is no scenario where Donald Trump's fiscal record can be classified as a success. circuitomt.com.br · www.diariodocentrodomundo.com.br · www.spacemoney.com.br · www.osul.com.br
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Congressional Budget Office estimates that US debt will reach $64 trillion by 2036. www.fool.com
[● 2 SOURCES] New tax and immigration legislation in the second Trump term added US$ 4.7 trillion to the US debt. circuitomt.com.br · www.spacemoney.com.br