# US national debt tops $40 trillion for first time in history

https://mins.news/en/item/29040

- CGTN, 2026-08-20 01:25 UTC
- Economy
- Original: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-08-20/US-national-debt-tops-40-trillion-for-first-time-in-history-1PKKLiM1aUg/p.html?UTM_Source=cgtn&UTM_Medium=rss&UTM_Campaign=World

> Treasury data shows US public debt reached $40.047 trillion as of Tuesday, crossing $40 trillion for the first time. The milestone came earlier than expected amid persistent budget deficits, while fiscal experts warned the trajectory was unsustainable. The White House said the Trump administration was cutting waste and seeking faster growth.

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