America’s debt disaster is a five-alarm fire — and there’s only one fix
The U.S. national debt has surpassed the country's GDP, reaching $31.27 trillion and a debt-to-GDP ratio of 100.2%, according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Annual interest on the debt now exceeds $1 trillion, raising concerns about long-term fiscal sustainability. The article argues that bipartisan spending habits and repeated suspension of budget controls are primarily responsible for the growing deficit.
- ▪The U.S. national debt has reached $31.27 trillion, exceeding the nation's GDP of $31.22 trillion.
- ▪The annual interest expense on the national debt is over $1 trillion.
- ▪Federal tax receipts are at an all-time high, suggesting the issue is not a lack of revenue but excessive spending.
- ▪Spending caps in the past, such as those in the 1995-96 Clinton-Gingrich budget deal and the 2011 Budget Control Act, successfully reduced deficits and led to balanced budgets.
- ▪A Brookings Institute study found that spending caps limited federal budget growth to 2.7%, compared to 6.4% without them.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Opinion America’s debt disaster is a five-alarm fire — and there’s only one fix By Stephen Moore Published May 4, 2026, 9:54 p.m. ET US national debt, at $31.27 trillion, now surpasses the nation's GDP, hitting a 100.2% ratio. REUTERS Last week’s grim news about America’s publicly traded debt should be a blaring emergency siren — and a wake-up call. Data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows the debt, at $31.27 trillion, is now higher than the entire nation’s gross domestic product of $31.22 trillion. That’s a 100.2% debt-to-GDP ratio. The annual interest expense for carrying this debt exceeds $1 trillion — that’s $1,000,000,000,000, with 12 zeroes. What a legacy to leave for our children and grandchildren.
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