
Mounting U.S. National Debt Poses Long Term Economic Stability Risk
The U.S. national debt represents the total amount the federal government owes, including debt held by the public ($26.5 trillion) and intragovernmental debt ($12.1 trillion, e.g., Social Security trust funds). Annual deficits—when government spending exceeds revenue—add to this debt, with deficits consistently exceeding $1.5 trillion in recent years, including a