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U.S. debt tops $40 trillion

NPR | By Scott Horsley,

Sacha Pfeiffer

Published August 20, 2026 at 3:45 AM CDT

The federal debt is growing even faster than expected. Just paying interest on the $40 trillion balance is now the government's second-largest expense, outpacing everything but Social Security.

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Morning Edition

Scott Horsley

Scott Horsley is NPR's Chief Economics Correspondent.

See stories by Scott Horsley

Sacha Pfeiffer

Correspondent, Investigations

See stories by Sacha Pfeiffer

Morning news brief

Sacha Pfeiffer, Leila Fadel

Gulf countries react to protracted Iran war, U.S. debt tops $40 trillion, U.S. oil companies sign first deals with Venezuela.
'The Magic Faraway Tree,' a beloved book, comes to the big screen

Sacha Pfeiffer

NPR's Sacha Pfeiffers speaks with actor Andrew Garfield about "The Magic Faraway Tree," a film based on a beloved children's book franchise in the U.K.
The Navajo Nation wants to expand a coal mine. The plan could displace some families

Gabriel Pietrorazio

Coal mining has been a big part of the Navajo Nation's economy for decades. As mines and power plants have been closing, the tribe is trying to expand one of its largest mines.
Harry and Meghan returning to the U.K., reports say

Lauren Frayer, Sacha Pfeiffer

An official familiar with their plans tells NPR that Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are planning to move back to the United Kingdom and have enrolled their children in schools there this fall.
Tech billionaires push back against proposed wealth tax in California

Bobby Allyn

Tech billionaires in California are fighting a proposed one-time wealth tax. A Google co-founder is leading the charge against the tax, which would generate revenue for health-care services.