The federal interest burden has reached a new height, exceeding even the 1991 record, but analysts warn the risks associated with servicing the ever-growing national debt today are much higher than they were 35 years ago, analysts warn.
A recent analysis from investment management firm Doubleline noted that in 2025, the federal net interest payment on the U.S.'s now-$40 trillion national debt reached 18.5% of revenue, surpassing 1991's record 18.4%. That means the U.S. is collecting nearly 19% of all taxes and revenue just to pay off interest on its ballooning debt, equivalent to $1.25 trillion—more than the entire 2026 defense budget.
Growing interest payments create a cycle: the government must borrow more just to cover the interest, leaving it less flexible to spend on infrastructure, education, and other investments that drive growth.
After reading the above we all should be pissed and we have no one to blame but ourselves as WE voted in the people who have Bankrupted our country. Various groups of Americans what this or what that and others have to pay. Welfare for those who CAN work but decide not to, who remembers the crap about the "Obama" phone? Instead of telling people who wanted a phone to get a job, the government gave them a phone on our dime. Remember the financial meltdown in 2007, no one went to jail but We the People got hosed by Banks and the Government.
As we the people live longer, Social Security must be changed if it is to ever pay out to those who work now. SS is just a glorified "PONZI" scam run by the government. Many years ago the government took the SS money and moved to the general fund so it could be spent. Never a "LOCK BOX" as some once claimed, just legal stealing by our government.
It is the governments job to protect us and they are failing. We all hear about shortages because the idiots in DC spend our money on crap that is not what they were elected to do. It will not get better in my life and I feel sorry for those coming behind me as they will see the county go 'BANKRUPT". If anyone remembers history and the Great Depression, get ready as the dollar will be used as wallpaper in the future as stock certificates were in 1929.
We now spend less on defense than some NATO countries do as our GDP is 3.5% and should be at least 5% as Trump rants about. At one time we spent 6% of GDP and now we don't and are paying for it. Until our government gets it house in order as We the People must every month, it is only a matter of time before we fail as a world leader so get ready and I don't mean cash. Gold, Silver, land or anything else that will have value when the dollar crashes due to a Bankrupt country.