What happened
The United States federal budget deficit has reached nearly $2 trillion, with a $1.993 trillion deficit reported, marking an increase of $218 billion from the previous fiscal year. This significant milestone has been met with silence from lawmakers, despite warnings from budget experts and former politicians.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the budget deficit has increased, with the US spending $7.4 trillion in 2025, a 6% increase, and collecting $5.4 trillion in revenue. Former Republican Texas Rep. Ron Paul has spoken out about the deficit, stating that it will negatively impact Republicans in the midterm elections and that the country is not being made great again.
Budget experts expect the deficit to surpass 6% of gross domestic product, compared to 5.8% in the 2025 fiscal year. The US is running annual deficits normally seen only during recessions and wars, with federal debt held by the public as a share of the economy expected to surpass its World War II peak.
Some lawmakers, including Democratic Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Republican Florida Sen. Rick Scott, and Republican Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, have previously warned about the $40 trillion national debt, despite voting for legislation that contributed to the debt.