Overview
- Treasury data show gross federal debt at $39,016,762,910,245.14 as of March 17, less than five months after first crossing $38 trillion.
- Debt held by the public, the measure economists emphasize, has risen to roughly $31.3 trillion.
- Net interest payments are projected to exceed $1 trillion in fiscal year 2026, making interest the fastest‑growing item in the federal budget.
- The Congressional Budget Office projects annual deficits rising toward $3.1 trillion by 2036, with publicly held debt near 120% of GDP.
- The Peter G. Peterson Foundation warns the total could reach $40 trillion before fall elections, while a White House adviser estimates Iran‑related costs have topped $12 billion.