US Bleeds $88 Billion a Month Just Paying Interest on National Debt — Equal to Defense and Education Budgets Combined

The United States is now paying nearly $530 billion in interest on its national debt in just the first half of fiscal year 2026 — that’s more than $88 billion a month. This staggering figure, revealed in a recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) update, is roughly equal to the combined spending on the Department of Defense and the Department of Education during the same period. To put it bluntly, the government is shelling out as much to service its debt as it is to fund the military and schools.

The total U.S. national debt has surged past $39 trillion, and with it, the cost of maintaining that debt has exploded. Interest payments climbed by $33 billion compared to the previous year — a 7 percent increase — driven by a larger debt load and higher long-term interest rates. While short-term rates have dipped slightly, it’s not enough to offset the overall rise.

This isn’t just a dry budget number. It’s a glaring sign of mismanagement and fiscal irresponsibility that has real consequences. The government’s borrowing remains sky-high, with a $1.2 trillion deficit in just six months, forcing more than $163 billion in new borrowing in March alone. That’s borrowing on top of borrowing, all while interest costs siphon off funds that could otherwise support critical public services or reduce the debt itself.

The CBO report also notes that government revenues have increased — thanks in part to policies like Trump’s tariffs — but outlays are rising too, just not as fast. The net effect? A still-massive deficit that threatens the country’s financial stability.

Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, slammed the lack of political will to tackle the problem. She called on Congress and the president to finally get serious about cutting deficits from the unsustainable 6 percent of GDP to a more manageable 3 percent. She also highlighted the urgent need to shore up Social Security, Medicare, and highway trust funds — all on the brink because of this runaway debt.

This debt spiral isn’t just an abstract number. It’s a direct assault on the country’s future, forcing Americans to pay exorbitant interest while critical investments get shortchanged. Yet lawmakers continue to kick the can down the road, ignoring the ticking fiscal time bomb.

If we don’t demand accountability and real solutions now, the debt’s growing interest payments will only consume more of our budget — leaving less for defense, education, and the services that actually build a stronger America. The math is clear. The question is whether our leaders have the guts to face it.