Blame spending for our $40 trillion debt

Published August 25, 2026 5:00am ET | Updated August 27, 2026 4:03pm ET



The federal government’s debt burden passed $40 trillion last week, a terrible milestone. It shows the extent to which we are living beyond our means and need to make hard choices.

As we evaluate this growing economic and national security threat, we must first properly diagnose how we got into this dire position. Democrats are misdiagnosing the problem.

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.