The U.S. Treasury has borrowed approximately $155 billion every month during the fiscal year 2026, resulting in a federal deficit nearing $1.4 trillion for the first nine months, according to fortune.com. This borrowing pace has already exceeded the $1.3 trillion deficit recorded for the same period in 2025. The total national debt now stands at $39.4 trillion, accumulated under multiple administrations.
The Congressional Budget Office's latest monthly budget review reveals that net interest payments on the public debt have reached $857 billion for the fiscal year so far, which translates to about $23.8 billion per week. This interest cost is roughly $100 billion higher than the amount paid in the first nine months of 2025, driven by increased debt levels and higher long-term interest rates, fortune.com reports.
The rising interest payments now exceed combined spending on several federal departments, including Defense, Commerce, Homeland Security, Education, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Small Business Administration, and the U.S. Coronavirus Refundable Credits scheme. Additionally, growing demands for social security, Medicare, and Medicaid are further straining government finances, according to fortune.com.
The weekly interest payment of $23.8 billion highlights the significant fiscal pressure on the U.S. government budget, with the national debt at $39.4 trillion as of the current fiscal year, fortune.com states.