Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Da Silva: What is happening in Gaza is not a war, it is a genocide
Da Silva: Even the Jewish people do not want this war; it is revenge by a government against the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state
Brazilian President Lula da Silva: What we are seeing is not a war between two armies. [What we have is a] completely professional army that is killing women and children in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas: We affirm our readiness to immediately begin a round of indirect negotiations to reach an agreement on the points of contention
Hamas: We welcome the continued Qatari and Egyptian efforts to end the war waged by the Zionist occupation against our people
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli occupation forces blew up Noura Al-Kaabi Hospital, designated for kidney dialysis patients, in the northern Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli drone targets a car on the Ayta al-Shaab-Debel road in southern Lebanon
Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Yahya Saree: The remaining airlines that have not yet complied with the ban are urged to take this into serious consideration to ensure the safety of their aircraft and passengers
Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Yahya Saree: The YAF, after successfully imposing a partial ban on air traffic at Lydd Airport, are now working to impose a full ban on air traffic at the aforementioned airport in the coming period
Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Yahya Saree: YAF's UAV Unit carried out three military operations targeting three vital Israeli sites in the occupied Palestinian areas of Yafa, Isdud, and Umm al-Rashrash, using three drones

US debt hits new historic high

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 17 Jun 2023 17:54
3 Min Read

The US Treasury Department reveals that the US national debt has reached a new high, reaching $32 trillion.

  • x
  • President Joe Biden addresses the nation on the budget deal that lifts the federal debt limit and averts a U.S. government default, from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, June 2, 2023. (AP)
    President Joe Biden addresses the nation on the budget deal that lifts the federal debt limit and averts a US government default, from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, June 2, 2023. (AP)

The US national debt passed a $32 trillion record for the first time this week, the Treasury Department revealed in data released on Friday. 

This comes less than two weeks after President Joe Biden signed a bill that lifts Washington's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, averting what could have been a first-ever US debt default. 

The measure enables the government to borrow an unlimited amount of money until January 1, 2025, when the debt ceiling suspension expires. This means that the government can continue to pay for domestic services like social security and Medicare by borrowing money from overseas and effectively accruing even more debt.

Read next: US deep in debt, owing banks $1 trillion in credit cards

The debt ceiling was lifted after the US Treasury repeatedly warned that if it remained in place, the US would default on its obligations. The borrowing limit was exceeded in January, and the Treasury had only a limited arsenal of choices to avoid the default, which was slated for early June.

The concerns sparked a months-long battle between Republicans and Democrats over spending priorities, threatening the measure's ratification.

Related News

Preparation for response to US nuclear proposal underway: Iran's FM

Hamas says ready to 'immediately' begin indirect talks for Gaza truce

Federal borrowing breaks the record

On the first business day after the debt ceiling was scrapped, federal borrowing surged by roughly $400 billion. The $32 trillion mark was surpassed nine years earlier than predicted before the Covid-19 outbreak, the New York Times reported. Experts explained that to avert another economic catastrophe, the government must address the underlying causes of the debt.

“As we race past $32 trillion with no end in sight, it’s well past time to address the fundamental drivers of our debt, which are mandatory spending growth and the lack of sufficient revenues to fund it,” Michael A. Peterson, head of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, told the news outlet.

The United States might incur another $127 trillion in debt over the following 30 years, according to the foundation's forecasts, with interest expenditures accounting for almost 40% of federal revenue by 2053.

US federal debt at a critical rate

Last week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a warning regarding the escalating debt of the United States Federal Government, cautioning that it is on an unsustainable path if its current rate of expansion continues.

The report stated that the federal government is facing a challenging fiscal future in the long term. By the end of the fiscal year 2022, the debt held by the public had reached approximately 97% of the gross domestic product (GDP).

The debt held by the public is projected to outpace the growth of the US economy, with estimates indicating that it will reach a historical high of 106% of GDP within the next decade, according to the GAO. Furthermore, the report emphasized that this trajectory will lead to an increasingly accelerated accumulation of debt.

"The fiscal outlook faces additional risks posed by delays in raising or suspending the debt limit," the report explained. "These delays could disrupt financial markets, and investors may require higher interest rates to hedge against increased risks, which could increase borrowing costs," the GAO said.

  • United States
  • US national debt
  • US inflation
  • Joe Biden

Most Read

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Russia-Ukraine peace talks resume in Istanbul amid escalating war
Europe

Ukraine, Russia head for Istanbul talks as battles rage, cmdr. resigns

Australia urged to join Macron-led push for Palestinian statehood
Asia Pacific

Australia urged to join Macron-led push for Palestinian statehood

‘Israel’ lost international legitimacy for war on Gaza: Israeli media
Palestine

‘Israel’ lost 'international legitimacy' for Gaza war: Israeli media

MSF Chief: US-Israeli aid plan in Gaza ‘Dehumanising’
Politics

US-Israeli aid plan in Gaza used as tool for forced displacement: MSF

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS