The Aporia
The Aporia
Goldberg, J., Hayes, S., Williamson, K. D., & Warren, M. (2026, August 25). How The U.S. Racked Up Its $40 Trillion Debt. The Dispatch. https://thedispatch.com/podcast/dispatch-podcast/how-the-u-s-racked-up-its-40-trillion-debt/
Goldberg, Jonah, et al. “How The U.S. Racked Up Its $40 Trillion Debt.” The Dispatch, 25 Aug. 2026, https://thedispatch.com/podcast/dispatch-podcast/how-the-u-s-racked-up-its-40-trillion-debt/.
Goldberg, Jonah, et al. “How The U.S. Racked Up Its $40 Trillion Debt.” The Dispatch, August 25, 2026. https://thedispatch.com/podcast/dispatch-podcast/how-the-u-s-racked-up-its-40-trillion-debt/.
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The US has surpassed $40 trillion in national debt for the first time, according to the US Treasury Department. This milestone marks 20 years of government spending that grew under both President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. During Trump's first term, he approved $8.4 trillion worth of debt, while Biden approved $4.3 trillion worth of debt. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that the government has added $1.8 trillion to its debt in the current fiscal year alone. As a result, government watchdog groups had anticipated for weeks that the US would surpass the $40 trillion threshold after it reached $39 trillion in March.
The rapid growth of national debt has raised concerns among economists and politicians about the country's economic future. Some experts warn that a loss of confidence in the US government could lead to higher interest rates, inflation, and even bankruptcy. In response to the growing debt, the Treasury Department recently announced $5 billion in bond buybacks to calm investors, but this move has been criticized as merely treating symptoms rather than addressing the underlying problem.
The national debt is projected to continue growing in the coming years, with some estimates suggesting that it could reach $50 trillion by 2030. This has significant implications for the country's economic stability and ability to fund social programs and infrastructure projects.
