США budget deficit in the 2026 fiscal year reached 1,99 trillion dollars due to increased spending
According to the Ministry of Finance США, for the financial year 2026, which ended in September, the country's budget deficit increased to 1,99 trillion dollars. This is about 12% more than a year earlier. Then it was 1,78 trillion dollars.
As Bloomberg writes, spending increased by about 6% to 7,4 trillion dollars, while revenues increased by 3% to 5,4 trillion dollars.
This year’s increase in U.S. Treasury yields, coupled with a steady increase in government debt, has made interest payments one of the main drivers of the widening 2026 deficit. Net interest costs increased by 81,4 billion dollars and reached a record 1,05 trillion dollars.
The cost of servicing the public debt is among the three largest items of expenditure of the federal government. The largest article is social security: the cost of the corresponding program for the financial year increased by 86,4 billion dollars - up to 1,67 trillion dollars. Medicare program expenses increased on 76 billion dollars - up to 1,07 trillion dollars.
This year’s figure was the fourth consecutive time that the budget deficit of США is about 2 trillion dollars. According to available data, it is about 6% of gross domestic product - an extremely high level for relatively low unemployment.
Formally last year, the deficit decreased, but this was due to the accounting nuance. The 2025 Republican tax law increased restrictions on student loans, and the Ministry of Finance reflected this as a reduction in 2025 spending.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, in 2030, the debt-to-ВВП ratio will exceed the previous record of 1946.
Last month, one of США’s outstanding government debt figures surpassed 40 trillion dollars.
At the same time, Trump continues to offer new spending. He called for an increase in defense spending by almost 500 billion dollars, and also promised to pay 5000 dollars to each American if the Republicans retain control of both houses of Congress after the midterm elections next month.
In September, США spending exceeded budget revenues for 27 billion dollars.
The deficit was also affected by the Trump tax package, adopted in 2025. Although in 2026 the income tax revenue of individuals increased by 189 billion dollars, the collection of corporate income taxes decreased by more than 70 billion dollars. The reason for the adoption of the key tax law of the Trump administration in 2025 continued.
- Meanwhile, МВФ warns that the world's leading economies should take urgent measures to restore the sustainability of public finances. According to forecasts, in 2026 year, China's budget deficits and США will reach or exceed 8% ВВП.
