Total public debt outstanding stood at US$40.05 trillion, in contrast to an earlier forecast by the Congressional Budget Office of US$39.4 trillion by the end of 2026.

Total public debt outstanding stood at US$40.05 trillion, in contrast to an earlier forecast by the Congressional Budget Office of US$39.4 trillion by the end of 2026.

Total public debt outstanding stood at US$40.05 trillion, in contrast to an earlier forecast by the Congressional Budget Office of US$39.4 trillion by the end of 2026.

The federal government has topped $40 trillion in total debt for the first time in history, setting a record for red ink.

The national debt has surpassed a record $40 trillion, highlighting the impact of defense costs, social programs, and interest on the deficit.

WASHINGTON - US debt reached $40tn for the first time on Wednesday, the US treasury department said, after the government deficit doubled over the last decade. The treasury’s latest debt balance showed $40.047tn on Tuesday afternoon, the highest in US history. The milestone marks years of government spending that grew under both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. During his first term, Trump approved $8.4tn worth of debt, with a huge chunk going to Covid-19 relief spending, while Biden approved $4.3tn worth of debt, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. In fiscal year 2026, which started in October 2026, $1.8tn has been added to the debt so far, with a big chunk of new government spending dedicated to tariff refunds, which have totaled $100bn so far, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center. Government spending watchdog groups have anticipated for weeks the US surpassing the $40tn threshold after debt reached $39tn in March. “For perspective, it took nearly 200 years for America’s gross debt…