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Budget, Debt, and Deficits

Red Ink and Lots of It

By experts and staff

Published
  • James M. LindsayCFR Expert
    Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy
A picture illustration shows a 100 Dollar banknote laying one Dollar banknotes.
A picture illustration shows a 100 Dollar banknote laying on Dollar banknotes. (Kacper Pempel/courtesy Reuters)

The Associated Press reports that the federal government’s debt has now passed $14 trillion. No surprise there. We knew this day was coming. But it’s still depressing that it has arrived.

The AP story reports some sobering numbers to put our debt load in perspective:

Those are all ugly numbers.