{
  "id": 15847427,
  "title": "US national debt hits record, rising US$400bil in two months",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/us-national-debt-hits-record-rising-us-400bil-in-two-months",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-21T05:04:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2026/10/21/us-national-debt-hits-record-rising-us-400bil-in-two-months"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The US national debt surged by nearly US$400 billion over the past two months, reaching a record high of US$40.4 trillion, according to recent data from the US Treasury Department. This increase follows the debt surpassing the previous record of US$40 trillion on August 19. Government borrowing, which has risen by 1% since the end of August, contributed to the steep rise, pushing the debt to US$40.396 trillion as of October 19. Experts predict that the national debt could surpass the US$50 trillion mark by 2030, based on current growth trends. The Congressional Budget Office further estimates that federal debt will be 20% higher than the Gross Domestic Product by 2036.",
  "summary": "Based on current growth rates, analysts projected that the US national debt could exceed US$50 trillion by 2030.",
  "key_points": [
    "US national debt hits US$40.4 trillion, record high",
    "Debt increased by US$400 billion in two months",
    "Experts forecast debt could exceed US$50 trillion by 2030"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}