© 2026
Prairie Public NewsRoom
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

The $40 trillion national debt may already be costing you

NPR | By Megan Lim,
Juana Summers, Janaya Williams
Published August 20, 2026 at 3:01 PM CDT

The $40 trillion national debt isn't just a number in Washington. It can make borrowing more expensive for everyday Americans, and every realistic plan to bring it down involves tradeoffs.

Copyright 2026 NPR
Megan Lim
Juana Summers
Juana Summers is a host of NPR's All Things Considered.
See stories by Juana Summers
Janaya Williams
Public media depends on you.
Your support keeps Prairie Public strong and independent, serving communities across our region with programs that educate, involve, and inspire.
Donate