WASHINGTONPOST (Steve Thompson) - United States debt surpasses $40 trillion Wed Aug 19 22:23:10 2026 The landmark number comes months earlier than forecasters anticipated. Channelt.me/News_Wire2 Sourcehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/08/19/united-states-debt-surpasses-40-trillion/ Keywordsus-debtnational-debteconomyfinanceeconomicsus-governmentpoliticsfiscal-policybudget-deficitus-newsspendingfederal-budgetwashingtonpoststeve-thompsonmacroeconomicsdebt-crisisusa