Revision History

The U.S. national debt surpassed $39 trillion on March 17, 2026, adding $1 trillion in just five months. Annual interest payments now exceed $1 trillion—more than the entire defense budget—while the country has lost its top credit rating from all three major agencies for the first time in over a century. The milestone has reignited debates over spending cuts, tax policy, and whether the debt trajectory poses an existential fiscal threat or a manageable challenge for a sovereign currency issuer.