America’s $38.5T Debt Problem: Powell’s Final Red Flag 🚨
Fed Chair Jerome Powell just dropped a reality check the market can’t ignore: U.S. national debt has surged to $38.5 trillion, and by his own words, the path we’re on is no longer sustainable. As 2026 begins, the numbers are starting to bite.
Key Highlights
Debt on Autopilot: The U.S. is piling on close to $8 billion in new debt every day.
Interest Is the Real Threat: Annual interest costs are set to cross $1 trillion, now exceeding total U.S. defense spending.
Growth vs Debt Mismatch: Powell’s biggest concern is that debt is rising faster than GDP, increasing the risk of economic stress during future downturns.
“We’re effectively borrowing from future generations… this fiscal path is unsustainable.” — Jerome Powell
Why It Matters The Fed can move rates, but it doesn’t control government spending—that responsibility sits with Congress. With Powell’s term ending in May 2026, his warning sounds like a final message to policymakers: managing an economy where debt servicing becomes a dominant budget item will be one of the biggest challenges for the next Fed Chair.
If you want it more bullish/bearish, shorter, or more crypto-focused, say the word.