CNBC
U.S. government debt passes $40 trillion, more than doubling in a decade
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
U.S. government debt exceeded $40 trillion on January 22, 2025, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. The milestone represents an increase from approximately $19.6 trillion in January 2015. The Treasury tracks the national debt daily on its website, which showed the figure surpassing $40 trillion that day.
