This opinion piece for Fox News warns that the US national debt, which has just passed $40 trillion, could reach $50 trillion by as early as 2030 if current spending patterns continue. The author argues this is no longer a partisan issue but a straightforward arithmetic problem, driven by persistently large annual deficits and a rapidly growing interest bill that is squeezing out other federal priorities.

The piece cites Congressional Budget Office projections of a roughly $1.9 trillion deficit in 2026 and more than $23 trillion in cumulative deficits between 2026 and 2035, with net interest costs rising from 3.3% to 4.6% of GDP by 2036. It also highlights looming shortfalls in Social Security and Medicare, whose trust funds are projected to be exhausted in 2032 and 2033 respectively, warning that without political action benefits would have to be cut or taxes raised, while rising borrowing risks pushing up interest rates and destabilising the Treasury market.