Uncharted territory': The $40 trillion U.S. national debt just got uglier as interest payments rise to $1.25 trillion a year | Fortune

A new analysis highlights how the U.S. national debt’s interest costs have intensified, reaching a record federal burden above the level seen in 1991. In 2025, net federal interest payments on America’s roughly $40 billones de deuda nacional alcanzaron 18,5% de los ingresos, superando el récord de 18,4% de 1991, según Doubleline. Eso equivale a cerca de $1,25 billones al año, más que todo el presupuesto de defensa de 2026, y significa que casi 19% de los impuestos y otros ingresos se destinan solo a intereses. The article links the change to a feedback cycle: higher borrowing for interest limits spending on areas like infrastructure and education. Projections cited from the Congressional Budget Office suggest interest costs could rise to 25% by 2036. It also notes that hyperscalers are issuing large volumes of 10-to-30-year bonds, adding strain.