finance
U.S. Interest Costs on Public Debt Reach Record $616 Billion in First Seven Months of FY2026
Net interest payments on U.S. public debt totaled $616 billion for the first seven months of fiscal year 2026. The figure is $37 billion higher than the same period last year.
May 28, 5:11 PM·1m read1 source
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U.S. public debt reached $616 billion in the first seven months of fiscal year 2026. 4 percent, above the same period in fiscal year 2025.
Interest payments now rank as the second-largest federal spending category. They exceed Defense and Medicare outlays and trail only Social Security.
Interest costs have more than tripled compared with the same seven-month period in 2021. 1 trillion in 2036. 2 trillion. 6 percent by 2036.
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