Dossier
U.S. Federal Debt
Coverage of U.S. Federal Debt in the Nexus archive.
- The national debt’s 20-year deadline and baby boomers’ spending problem: ‘a lot of incentive for every generation to try to pass a big bill’
Economist Kent Smetters warns the U.S. federal debt is on a 20-year trajectory toward an unsustainable 210% of GDP, driven by disproportionate spending on older Americans. Retirees receive 38.6% of federal outlays, while spending per older person is 10x higher than for younger individuals, creating intergenerational fiscal challenges.
- The U.S. debt now exceeds the country's GDP. Should we worry?
The U.S. debt has surpassed the country's GDP, with federal debt held by the public exceeding the total value of the nation's economic output, prompting concern among experts. This development raises questions about the nation's financial stability. The situation is being closely monitored.