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The $40 trillion national debt may already be costing you

NPR | By Megan Lim,
Juana Summers, Janaya Williams
Published August 20, 2026 at 4:01 PM EDT

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

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