NPR
Three things to know about the $40 trillion federal debt
Thursday, August 20, 2026
The U.S. federal debt reached $40 trillion this week, according to Treasury Department data. The debt has doubled since 2017. Annual interest payments on the federal debt exceed $1 trillion.
Original reporting: https://www.npr.org/2026/08/20/nx-s1-5939473/40-trillion-federal-debt