US Federal Debt Tops $40 Trillion for First Time; Publicly Held $32.3 Trillion
In August 2026, US federal government debt exceeded $40 trillion for the first time, reaching about $40.05 trillion, with publicly held debt at $32.3 trillion and intragovernmental holdings about $7.8 trillion. Over five years, the debt grew by more than a third. Past-year daily increases averaged $7.8 billion to $9 billion. Net interest spending has risen to roughly $1 trillion and continues climbing, while about $10 trillion in debt is due for refinancing.
In August 2026, the total federal government debt surpassed the $40 trillion threshold for the first time. As of mid-August, the public debt stood at approximately $40.05 trillion, with about $32.3 trillion held by the public and roughly $7.8 trillion held by government accounts. Compared with five years earlier, the debt has grown by more than a third. Over the past year, debt increased by an average of about $7.8 billion to $9 billion per day.
The Treasury's net interest spending has risen to roughly $1 trillion and continues to climb. In the meantime, about $10 trillion in outstanding debt is scheduled to be rolled over and refinanced in the coming period.