#USNationalDebt The US national debt has surpassed $36 trillion, driven by government spending, tax cuts, and rising healthcare and social security costs. This debt is composed of:

- *Debt Held by the Public*: Approximately $29 trillion, which includes Treasury securities held by investors outside the federal government.

- *Intragovernmental Debt*: Around $7.4 trillion, representing non-marketable Treasury securities held in accounts of programs administered by the federal government.

The debt-to-GDP ratio has consistently increased since the 1980s, except during the presidencies of Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Factors contributing to the growing national debt include:

- *Demographics*: America's aging population puts pressure on the federal budget, particularly on programs like Social Security and Medicare.

- *Rising Healthcare Costs*: Healthcare represents nearly one-fifth of the US economy and is a fast-growing part of the budget.

- *Higher Interest Rates*: As interest rates rise, the cost of maintaining the national debt increases.

The Congressional Budget Office projects that federal debt held by the public will rise from 99% of GDP in 2024 to 116% in 2034, driven by growth in interest costs and mandatory spending outpacing revenues and economic growth