U.S. National Debt Tops $40 Trillion as Interest Costs Rise
Treasury data show interest payments near $1.2 trillion in fiscal 2026 as long-term borrowing costs climb and lawmakers face pressure to curb deficits.
- On Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, the U.S. Treasury Department announced total public debt topped $40.047 trillion for the first time, a historic milestone driven by war spending, tax cuts, and rising interest costs.
- Spending on the war in Iran, tax cuts from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and rising interest payments have strained the federal budget, with interest costs now eclipsing Medicare outlays as the second-largest line item.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a doubling of buyback operations for long-term Treasuries to at least $4 billion per operation, aiming to stabilize yields as 30-year Treasury yields climbed to near two-decade highs.
- Projections from the Bipartisan Policy Center indicate the U.S. will reach the $41.1 trillion debt limit between late winter and mid-summer 2027, requiring Congress to vote again on raising borrowing authority.
- Fitch Ratings warned that persistent deficits leave the nation 'vulnerable to future economic shocks' as debt levels rise, threatening long-term fiscal stability despite administration claims of economic strength.
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That $40 trillion U.S. national debt in historical context
Special to WorldTribune.com Commentary by Stephen Moore, August 25, 2026 Is the USA going bankrupt? Thank God, no, we aren’t going bust as a nation, despite our gargantuan $40 trillion national debt. The rapid pileup of debt under Republicans and Democrats alike is certainly a disgrace and worrisome. When I came to Washington in the […]
The US debt cracks $40 trillion. Experts warn of a debt spiral, while Trump's policy could cost additional trillions.
The US debt cracks $40 trillion. Experts warn of a debt spiral, while Trump's policy could cost additional trillions.
U.S. debt hits $40 trillion as America's borrowing binge continues
WASHINGTON — America’s gross national debt topped $40 trillion for the first time Wednesday, an ominous milestone for an economy that sits on a shaky fiscal foundation after decades of borrowing to pay for the rising costs of the military,…
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