The U.S. national debt is on track to cross $40 trillion this week, reaching the milestone months earlier than previously expected as Washington borrows at a faster pace and the cost of financing that debt climbs to levels not seen in nearly two decades.
The acceleration comes partly from an unexpected drop in federal revenue after the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs, according to a Washington Post report. The ruling eliminated an estimated $250 billion in anticipated revenue, adding pressure on the Treasury Department to borrow more money to cover government expenses.
