The US national debt passed another grim milestone Thursday when the latest data showed that government debt held by the public has surpassed America's total annual economic output.

Fact checked by Suzanne Kvilhaug Reviewed by Samantha Silberstein Key Takeaways As of May 2026, the U.S. national debt exceeded $38 trillion.Budget deficits occur when government spending exceeds tax ...

Federal debt held by the public now surpasses the total value of the nation's economic output. Here's why experts say that's a concern.

U.S. national debt held by the public has surpassed the size of the economy for the first time since World War II, reaching over 100% of GDP in March.

The United States' national debt is on track to double over the next three decades amid a rush of spending by the White House ...

National debt now exceeds GDP, signaling higher borrowing costs, tighter financial conditions and a long stretch of elevated ...