U.S. federal government debt reaches $40 trillion as of the 18th

2026-08-19

U.S. federal government debt hit $40 trillion for the first time as of the 18th, according to daily fiscal data released by the U.S. Treasury Department on the 19th. It is equivalent to about 6,320 trillion yen.

Factors behind the rise in debt include increasing social security spending as the population ages, as well as interest payments that are approaching $1 trillion a year. Debt continues to expand, and the fiscal burden is becoming even heavier.

Total debt surged on the back of measures to combat the novel coronavirus and other steps, topping $30 trillion at the end of January 2022. That means it rose by more than 30% in about four and a half years. As interest rates rise, interest payments that have grown alongside debt are also likely to keep increasing.

Enjoyed this article? Share it with your network!