Hailey Whitlock, Editor

To begin, it is essential to understand how the federal debt and deficit work. A deficit in funding for a government refers to when the funds brought in by a government, often through taxes and tariffs, are less than the government spends. When the government spends more money than they collect, a deficit is formed and this excess money must be borrowed and eventually repaid. Every year, a report is issued on the current state of this deficit and the expected trend of it. 

On Feb. 11, 2026, the Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan reporting agency, issued the newest report on the federal deficit. This report outlined predictions for the budget and economic outlook in the United States between 2026 and 2036. Within this time period, the federal deficit is expected to rise from an estimated $1.9 trillion in 2026 to approximately $3.1 trillion in 2036. 

This dramatic upward shift was calculated using the current governmental spending rates. In fact, as mentioned in the Congressional Budget Office report, relative to the economy in 2026, this deficit is approximately 5.8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This is expected to increase to 6.7% of the GDP by 2036. Per the Hill, the debt held by the public is anticipated to rise from 99% at the end of 2025 to 120% before 2036. The office indicated that during this time period, the national debt is likely to surpass the historically high rate of 106% and may even reach 175% within 30 years. 

These numbers are concerning for the future of our nation. As the federal deficit continues to climb, it is becoming a part of the mainstream news regarding politics, influencing voters’ perspectives. Per AP News, Michael Peterson, CEO of the Peterson Foundation, claimed that the Congressional Budget Office’s newest prediction “is an urgent warning to our leaders about America’s costly fiscal plan. This election year, voters understand the connection between rising debt and their personal economic condition. And the financial markets are watching. Stabilizing our debt is an essential part of improving affordability, and must be a core component of the 2026 campaign conversation.” 
A high deficit is not a political issue designated to one party alone; it is the responsibility of both parties to work together in combating this issue. As reported by AP News, Jonathan Burks, the Executive Vice President of Economic and Health Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, stated, “We encourage lawmakers to work together to explore options for raising revenue, trimming spending, and slowing the growth of the major cost drivers. Congress and the administration should seize the opportunity to act now before the available menu of choices becomes too painful.” His statement echoes the idea that it is essential to come together to advocate for the best interests of the country moving forward. As the deficit continues to climb, it raises concerns, particularly in young adults, about the effects such a high deficit may prompt in the future.