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U.S. national debt surpasses $40 trillion milestone FAST-MOVING
The United States national debt has surpassed the $40 trillion threshold for the first time in history. According to data from the U.S. Treasury Department, total public debt outstanding reached approximately $40.047 trillion. This figure includes $32.266 trillion in securities held by the public and $7.782 trillion in intra-governmental debt.
The debt has more than doubled in less than a decade, rising from $19.95 trillion in early 2017. Analysts attribute this rapid increase to heavy government borrowing during the COVID-19 pandemic, long-term imbalances between tax revenues and spending, and rising interest costs. In the first ten months of fiscal year 2026, the accumulated deficit has already exceeded the total deficit of fiscal year 2025.
Economists and budget watchdogs are warning of a potential fiscal crisis. Experts note that rising debt levels drive up interest rates, which can increase household expenses for mortgages, car loans, and credit cards. Furthermore, the Congressional Budget Office and other analysts highlight that interest payments are becoming a massive portion of the federal budget, rivaling major social programs. Without legislative action to increase revenue or reduce spending, officials warn of long-term consequences for Social Security solvency, projected for 2032, and general economic prosperity.
Entities
Bipartisan Policy Center · Donald Trump · Joe Biden · The Conference Board · U.S. Department of the Treasury · U.S. Treasury Department · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Social Security trust fund insolvency is projected to occur by 2032. economiccollapse.report
- [● 4 SOURCES] Of the total debt, $32.266 trillion is held by the public and $7.782 trillion is intra-governmental debt. srnnews.com · www.danas.rs · www.protothema.gr · www.tanea.gr
- [● 2 SOURCES] Federal programs currently spend significantly more than the government collects in revenue. srnnews.com · www.washingtonexaminer.com
- [● 8 SOURCES] Total U.S. public debt outstanding reached $40.047 trillion as of Tuesday. srnnews.com · www.danas.rs · lajornadanet.com · www.protothema.gr · www.tanea.gr · +3 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] High debt levels require the federal government to spend more on interest payments, reducing resources for infrastructure, education, and defense. economiccollapse.report
- [● 5 SOURCES] The U.S. national debt has more than doubled since January 2017. srnnews.com · www.danas.rs · lajornadanet.com · www.protothema.gr · www.tanea.gr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The federal budget deficit for the first five months of fiscal 2026 totaled approximately $1 trillion. www.washingtonexaminer.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Treasury's decision to double long-term bond buybacks will increase interest costs. dev.tnonline.com.br