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US budget deficit swells to $2 trillion amid record debt interest costs

The United States is facing a ballooning budget deficit, projected to reach $2 trillion in the current fiscal year, marking the largest deficit since 2021. A significant portion of this deficit is attributed to the rising cost of servicing the national debt, which hit $1.052 trillion for fiscal year 2026. This interest expenditure is now a larger outlay than defense spending and is estimated to reach a record high of 3.3% of GDP, exacerbating the deficit and creating a cycle of increased borrowing. AI

RANK_REASON The article discusses a major fiscal policy issue for the United States, including specific financial figures and historical context. [lever_c_demoted from significant: ic=1 ai=0.1]

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US budget deficit swells to $2 trillion amid record debt interest costs

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The article discusses a major fiscal policy issue for the United States, including specific financial figures and historical context. [lever_c_demoted from significant: ic=1 ai=0.1]
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COVERAGE [1]

  1. Axios Technology TIER_1 English(EN) · Emily Peck ·

    The budget deficit swells, while the cost of debt rises

    <div>Data: <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/FYOINT" target="_blank">Office of Management and Budget via Fred</a>, U.S. Treasury; Note: 2026 GDP estimated using extrapolated Q3 growth via CFRB; Chart: Emily Peck/Axios</div><p>The U.S. budget deficit is ballooning, reach…