The $40 trillion national debt may already be costing you

NPR | By Megan Lim,

Juana Summers, Janaya Williams

Published August 20, 2026 at 4:01 PM EDT

The $40 trillion national debt isn't just a number in Washington. It can make borrowing more expensive for everyday Americans, and every realistic plan to bring it down involves tradeoffs.

Megan Lim

Juana Summers

Juana Summers is a host of NPR's All Things Considered.

See stories by Juana Summers

Janaya Williams

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