U.S. Treasury Department data shows that as of August 18, the total U.S. national debt reached $40.047 trillion, double the $19.95 trillion when Donald Trump first took office in January 2017. In the first 10 months of fiscal year 2026, the federal government has paid approximately $1.1 trillion in interest, surpassing Medicare to become the second-largest government expenditure. The Congressional Budget Office projects that by 2036, annual net interest costs will increase from $1 trillion in 2026 to $2.1 trillion, and publicly held debt as a percentage of GDP will rise from 101% to 120%.