The US national debt hits a record $40 trillion

UNDATED-AP- The United States’ debt has surpassed a record $40 trillion, a staggering milestone as defense costs, social programs and interest on the burgeoning deficit make up an enormous share of federal spending. Wednesday’s (Aug. 19, 2026) figure was recorded just five months after the U.S. hit a record $39 trillion debt in March 2026. It reached $38 trillion five months before that, in October. The unprecedented $40 trillion figure highlights competing administration priorities, from boosting defense spending that the U.S. relies on to carry out President Donald Trump’s almost 6-month-old war in Iran to lowering the cost of gas and groceries.