Voting booths may have officially closed, but a vulnerability in the U.S. economy remains wide open for inspection. With President-elect Donald Trump now set to lead the nation, the federal government must prioritize addressing its unsustainable debt, which is now near 100% of gross domestic product. This issue must be confronted through sensible, open-minded conversations about budget priorities.
Despite the best efforts of Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, and the proposed new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), there are very few quick fixes on offer, and the relatively benign macroeconomic environment that has characterized the last 40 years or so no longer exists.
