U.S. Sovereign Debt Surpasses $30 Trillion for the First Time

According to Odaily, the total sovereign debt issued by the U.S. Treasury has exceeded $30 trillion for the first time, more than doubling since 2018. Data released on Thursday indicates that as of November, the U.S. government's outstanding Treasury bills, notes, and bonds have reached $30.2 trillion. This amount constitutes the primary component of the federal total debt, which stands at $38.4 trillion, including obligations to Social Security trust funds and savings bond holders. The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association reports that in 2020, the U.S. raised $4.3 trillion through the issuance of these three types of government securities, with the fiscal deficit surpassing $3 trillion that year. Although the deficit has narrowed since then, projected to decrease to approximately $1.78 trillion by the 2025 fiscal year, interest payments alone amount to $1.2 trillion. Jason Williams, a rate strategist at Citigroup, highlighted the significant challenge posed by interest expenses. He noted that even if tariff revenues reach $300-400 billion, they fall short of covering the interest payments on existing debt. Williams likened the situation to being trapped in quicksand, where tariffs might slow the descent but cannot prevent it entirely.