US federal debt hits $40.5 trillion with rising interest costs

government building Photo: Basti93 / Pixabay

The Treasury Department reported that total US federal debt reached $40.5 trillion on November 2, 2026. This figure represents a $2.5 trillion increase from the previous year and a $259.6 billion rise from October 2. The $32.7 trillion portion of the total was debt held by the public, while intragovernmental holdings made up the remaining $7.8 trillion. For September, the department logged $63.1 billion in accrued interest expense, with Treasury notes representing the largest share of that cost.

Read the full story at econotimes.com.

Photo: Basti93 / Pixabay