US national debt reaches record high. How’d we get here?
- Posted on August 20, 2026
- By CNN
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- 1 min read
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US national debt reaches record high. How’d we get here?
The US federal debt hit a record $40 trillion on Tuesday, according to the Treasury Department. CNN’s Stephanie Yang explains what has contributed to the mounting debt and how it could impact Americans, businesses, and the government for years to come.
