U.S. Treasury Faces $24 Billion Weekly Interest Amid Massive Borrowing
WHO:
Fortune - Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, expressed concerns about the U.S. fiscal trajectory.
WHAT:
Fox Business - The FY2026 deficit was $1.373 trillion through the first nine months of the fiscal year, representing a $35 billion increase compared to the same period a year ago.
Fox Business - Federal spending has increased by $178 billion from a year ago, while tax receipts have risen by $142 billion.
Fox Business - Net interest on the national debt rose $98 billion compared to the same period a year ago, an increase of 13%.
Fortune - The Census Bureau reported that Americans’ median age rose from 39.2 in 2024 to 39.4 in 2025.
Fortune - The ratio of males to females age 65 and older increased from 70.6 in 2001 to 81.6 by 2025.
Drudge Report - The U.S. Treasury is now paying $24 billion a week in interest on its debts.
Fortune - The U.S. government has borrowed $155 billion every month of the fiscal year 2026.
Fortune - The federal deficit for the fiscal year 2026 has totaled just under $1.4 trillion.
Fortune - The total U.S. national debt currently sits at $39.4 trillion.
Fortune - Net interest on public debt for the fiscal year has hit $857 billion, approximately $23.8 billion a week.
Fortune - Interest payments on the debt are $20 billion larger than the combined outlays for the Departments of Defense, Commerce, Homeland Security, Education, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Small Business Administration, and the U.S. Coronavirus Refundable Credits scheme.
Fortune - Social Security benefits spending rose by $62 billion (5%), Medicare outlays increased by $58 billion (8%), and Medicaid spending increased by $49 billion (10%).
WHERE:
Fortune - The data pertains to the U.S. national debt and federal spending.
WHEN:
Fortune - The fiscal year 2026 began in October 2025.
Fortune - The first nine months of the fiscal year 2026 have surpassed the borrowing levels of 2025.
WHY:
Fox Business - Increased spending was primarily driven by the cost of servicing the national debt and rising expenses for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Fortune - The increase in interest payments is attributed to a higher total debt burden and higher long-term interest rates.
Fortune - The rising costs for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are due to increases in average benefits, the number of beneficiaries, and higher payment rates for services.
HOW:
Fortune - The U.S. government continues to borrow at a pace of roughly $155 billion per month despite concerns from debt hawks.
(UPDATED July 11, 2026 01:24 UTC)
The fiscal year 2026 has seen a deficit of $1.373 trillion through the first nine months, marking a $35 billion increase from the same period last year, largely due to a $178 billion rise in federal spending. This increase in spending is primarily attributed to the costs associated with servicing the national debt and the growing expenses for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, while tax receipts have only increased by $142 billion. Additionally, the Census Bureau has reported that the median age of Americans rose from 39.2 in 2024 to 39.4 in 2025, with the ratio of males to females aged 65 and older increasing from 70.6 in 2001 to 81.6 by 2025.
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(UPDATED July 10, 2026 19:26 UTC)
Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, has raised alarms about the U.S. fiscal trajectory as the government borrows an astonishing $155 billion every month during the fiscal year 2026. Currently, the U.S. Treasury is paying $24 billion a week in interest on its debts, contributing to a federal deficit that has reached just under $1.4 trillion, while the total national debt stands at $39.4 trillion. The rising costs of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, along with increased interest payments, are attributed to higher average benefits and a growing number of beneficiaries.