Three things to know about the $40 trillion federal debt
The U.S. federal debt hit a record $40 trillion this week. The debt has doubled since 2017, and just paying interest on the accumulated debt now costs the government more than $1 trillion a year.
The U.S. federal debt hit a record $40 trillion this week. The debt has doubled since 2017, and just paying interest on the accumulated debt now costs the government more than $1 trillion a year.
This article was originally published at: https://www.npr.org/2026/08/20/nx-s1-5939473/40-trillion-...