Politics
How the U.S. government went from a balanced budget to $40 trillion in debt
NBC News Politics·August 22, 2026·1 min read
The U.S. national debt reached a record high of $40 trillion, as the government has not balanced its budget since the late 1990s. NBC News' Ryan Nobles examined how the debt has snowballed across presidents from both parties, highlighting the persistent fiscal challenges facing the nation.
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