The U.S. national debt has exceeded $37 trillion, raising fears that the country’s sea of red ink is rising faster than expected. Here’s what you need to know about the national debt milestone:

The $37 trillion milestone

Treasury Department reports new debt record:

The accelerated timeline

Debt milestone reached years ahead of projections:

The Big Beautiful Bill impact

Trump’s signature legislation adds trillions to debt:

The Republican opposition

Two House Republicans voted against debt-increasing bill:

The administration’s defense

Trump allies argue debt projections discount economic growth:

The tariff revenue argument

Trump says trade policies will fill budget holes:

The tariff criticism

Critics say consumers bear tariff costs:

Trump’s tariff victory claim

President dismisses concerns on social media:

The debt growth rate

Fiscal monitors highlight alarming acceleration:

The fiscal watchdog warnings

Budget experts call debt level wake-up call:

The interest cost burden

Debt service now second-largest budget item:

The global comparison

Peterson Foundation CEO provides international context:

The long-term sustainability

Government Accountability Office warns of unsustainable trajectory:

The Republican criticism

South Carolina congresswoman highlights generational burden:

Read more:

• U.S. debt surpasses $37 trillion, woefully out of balance

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