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# The number: $40 trillion
- URL: https://finformed.uk/the-number-40-trillion/
- Published: 2026-11-01T02:01:46.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-01T02:12:22.000Z
- Author: Ja’Van Edwards

$40.047tn

US gross federal debt passed **$40 trillion** for the first time on 18 August 2026.

Source: US Treasury, Debt to the Penny

## Why it’s news

It came early. According to MercoPress, the Congressional Budget Office had projected $39.4 trillion by the end of the 2026 financial year, and didn’t expect the $40 trillion line to be crossed until 2027.

## Why it matters

The US funds that debt by selling Treasury bonds, and the more it sells, the more investors can demand to hold them. In August the 30-year Treasury yield touched 5.323%, its highest in 19 years. The 10-year finished last week at about 4.9%.

**Why it matters here:** US government borrowing costs influence borrowing costs around the world, including UK government bonds, which feed into the price of fixed-rate mortgages.

## What it doesn’t mean

A big number on its own isn’t a crisis. What matters is whether investors keep buying the bonds, and at what price. That’s why the Treasury’s buybacks, and its borrowing plans on Wednesday 4 November, are worth watching. [We explain the buybacks here](https://finformed.uk/treasury-buybacks-claim-check/).

Still checking

“US interest costs now exceed defence spending.”

Checking

**Status: checking.** You’ll see it everywhere this year. Reports disagree on how it’s measured, so we’re checking the Treasury’s full-year figures before giving a verdict. It’s logged on our [claim checks record](https://finformed.uk/claim-checks/).

Finformed is independent research. Not financial advice. Spotted an error? Email [connect@finformed.uk](mailto:connect@finformed.uk) and we’ll correct it at the top of this piece, with the date.

Sources

1. US Treasury, *Debt to the Penny* (daily data). [fiscaldata.treasury.gov](https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/datasets/debt-to-the-penny/?ref=finformed.uk)
2. MercoPress, *US gross national debt passes 40 trillion dollars for the first time*, 21 Aug 2026\. [en.mercopress.com](https://en.mercopress.com/2026/08/21/us-gross-national-debt-passes-40-trillion-dollars-for-the-first-time?ref=finformed.uk)
3. Yahoo Finance, *Treasury doubles long-term bond buybacks to $4 billion*, 19 Aug 2026 (30-year yield high). [finance.yahoo.com](https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/treasury-doubles-long-term-bond-130635805.html?ref=finformed.uk)
4. Yahoo Finance (Stocktwits), *Weekly Spread*, 31 Oct 2026 (10-year close). [finance.yahoo.com](https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/currencies/articles/stocktwits-weekly-spread-shaped-treasury-005438925.html?ref=finformed.uk)