AP Alert US national debt surges past record $39 trillion just weeks into war in Iran FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press Mar 19, 2026 Mar 19, 2026 Updated May 6, 2026 0 Director of the White House National Economic Council Kevin Hassett stands March 6 before a television interview of the White House in Washington. Alex Brandon, Associated Press Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press WASHINGTON — The national debt surpassed a record $39 trillion Wednesday, a milestone that came just weeks into the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.kAm%96 F?AC64656?E65 7:8FC6 9:89=:89ED 4@>A6E:?8 25>:?:DEC2E:@? AC:@C:E:6D[ 7C@> A2DD:?8 2 >2DD:G6 E2I 4FED =2H 2?5 3@@DE:?8 5676?D6 DA6?5:?8 2?5 :>>:8C2E:@? 6?7@C46>6?E E@ 49:AA:?8 2H2J 2E E96 563E :ED6=7 — E96 =2EE6C @7 H9:49 s@?2=5 %CF>A AC@>:D65 E@ 5@ 2D 3@E9 2 42?5:52E6 2?5 2D AC6D:56?E]k^AmkAm%96 v@G6C?>6?E p44@F?E23:=:EJ ~77:46 @FE=:?6D D@>6 @7 E96 67764ED @7 C:D:?8 8@G6C?>6?E 563E @? p>6C:42?D — :?4=F5:?8 9:896C 3@CC@H:?8 4@DED 7@C E9:?8D =:<6 >@CE8286D 2?5 42CD[ =@H6C H286D 7C@> 3FD:?6DD6D 92G:?8 =6DD >@?6J 2G2:=23=6 E@ :?G6DE[ 2?5 >@C6 6IA6?D:G6 8@@5D 2?5 D6CG:46D]k^Am People are also reading… Iowa women’s basketball head coach Jan Jensen teases more transfer portal additions for Hawkeyes Iowa State's 2027 recruiting class ranks No. 1 after Donovan Davis commitment She narrowly survived hantavirus 30 years ago. Here’s what it was like. Daughter of 10-year MLB vet, Brianna Johnson a 'gem' who delivers for Hawkeyes again and again 8 children killed at home in Louisiana domestic violence, police say Former Cyclone Addy Brown commits to reigning NCAA Champs CyHawk Talk: How to feel about transfer portal additions and Iowa State recruiting win vs Iowa, Wisconsin Iowa State's simple reason for turning down $30 million Big 12 credit 4-star Donovan Davis commits to Iowa State over Iowa, Nebraska, others Pope Leo signals shift away from Catholic Church's focus on sex White House calls Mark Hamill 'sick' after actor posts Trump gravesite image Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz, Ben McCollum sound off on potential NCAA eligibility changes during Polk County I-Club stop Inside the intensity that defines Iowa State coach Jimmy Rogers Review: Tension ramps up as clock ticks down in ‘Neglected’ Americans don't like Trump's Jesus posts and back Pope Leo, poll shows kAmp5G@42E6D 7@C 2 32=2?465 3F586E 2=D@ H2C? E92E E96 =@?8\E6C> EC6?5 @7 3@CC@H:?8 >@C6 2?5 A2J:?8 >@C6 :? :?E6C6DE H:== 7@C46 p>6C:42?D E@ 7246 E@F896C 7:D42= EC256@77D 29625]k^AmkAm|:4926= !6E6CD@?[ 492:C 2?5 rt~ @7 E96 ?@?AC@7:E !6E6C v] !6E6CD@? u@F?52E:@?[ 4C62E65 E@ C2:D6 2H2C6?6DD @7 p>6C:42VD =@?8\E6C> 7:D42= 492==6?86D[ D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E E92E QH6 >FDE C64@8?:K6 E9:D 2=2C>:?8 C2E6 @7 8C@HE9 2?5 E96 D:8?:7:42?E 7:?2?4:2= 3FC56? H6 2C6 AFEE:?8 @? E96 ?6IE 86?6C2E:@?]Qk^Am kAm%96 EC2;64E@CJ @7 E96 C:D:?8 4@DED :D 2=D@ 2 4@?46C?] %96 7656C2= 563E DFC865 F?56C 3@E9 #6AF3=:42? 2?5 s6>@4C2E:4 AC6D:56?ED[ >@DE C646?E=J 7F6=65 3J H2CD[ =2C86\D42=6 r~'xs\`h A2?56>:4 DA6?5:?8 2?5 E2I 4FED]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAm%96 &]$] ?2E:@?2= 563E 9:E Sbg EC:==:@? 7:G6 >@?E9D 28@ — 2?5 Sbf EC:==:@? EH@ >@?E9D 367@C6 E92E]k^AmkAmQpE E96 4FCC6?E 8C@HE9 C2E6[ H6 H:== 9:E 2 DE2886C:?8 Sc_ EC:==:@? :? ?2E:@?2= 563E 367@C6 E9:D 72==VD 6=64E:@?D[Q !6E6CD@? D2:5] Qq@CC@H:?8 EC:==:@? 27E6C EC:==:@? 2E E9:D C2A:5 A246 H:E9 ?@ A=2? :? A=246 :D E96 567:?:E:@? @7 F?DFDE2:?23=6]Qk^Am kAm(9:E6 w@FD6 64@?@>:4 25G:D6C z6G:? w2DD6EE 6DE:>2E65 $F?52J E92E E96 H2C :? xC2? 925 4@DE E96 &]$] >@C6 E92? S`a 3:==:@? D@ 72C] xE :D F?4=62C H96? E96 H2C H:== 6?5]k^AmkAmzFD9 s6D2:[ 2 (9:E6 w@FD6 DA@<6D>2?[ A@:?E65 E@ 2 564=:?6 :? E96 7656C2= 567:4:E 5FC:?8 %CF>AVD 7:CDE J62C 324< :? @77:46]k^Am kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ %C62DFCJVD u:D42= s2E2 H63D:E6[ E@E2= 8@G6C?>6?E DA6?5:?8 :? 7:D42= J62C a_ad H2D Sf]_` EC:==:@? 2?5 E@E2= C6G6?F6 H2D Sd]ab EC:==:@?[ C6DF=E:?8 :? 2 567:4:E @7 S`]fg EC:==:@?[ H9:49 :D 2 564C62D6 @7 Sc` 3:==:@? 7C@> E96 AC6G:@FD 7:D42= J62C]k^Am kAms6D2: D2:5 E96 564C62D6 :? E96 567:4:E :D 2EEC:3FE23=6 E@ C2:D:?8 :?5:G:5F2= E2I C6G6?F6 2?5 2 Q8@G6C?>6?E C:89E\D:K:?8 AFD9 E92E 92D C65F465 7656C2= 6>A=@J>6?E E@ :ED =@H6DE =6G6= D:?46 `hee[ 2?5 288C6DD:G6 4C24<5@H? @? 7656C2= H6=72C6 7C2F5] pD E96D6 2?5 @E96C :?:E:2E:G6D 4@?E:?F6 E2<:?8 67764E[ p>6C:42VD 567:4:E 2?5 563E\E@\vs! C2E:@D H:== 4@?E:?F6 EC6?5:?8 :? E96 C:89E 5:C64E:@?]Qk^Am 0 Comments Related to this story Iran war has US farmers worried about the cost and availability of fertilizer Farmers have complained about costly fertilizer for years, but prices have soared even higher since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. US Mint can produce Trump commemorative gold coin after arts commission approves design The members of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts are supporters of the Republican president and were appointed by him this year. DOJ investigation into Powell could backfire on Trump and keep Fed chair in office Trump tapped former Fed official Kevin Warsh to succeed Powell, but his nomination stalled due to the investigation. Chances of a Federal Reserve rate cut fade as inflation worsens The jump in gas prices stemming from the war in Iran has had another impact that may also affect many Americans' finances: higher interest rates. Deficit Tops $1 Trillion The U.S. budget deficit topped $1T through February, though 12% lower YoY as tariff revenues surged 294% to $151B — surpassing corporate tax r… Fed keeps key rate unchanged, sees limited economic effect from Iran war Powell said he has "no intention" of leaving the central bank until a Justice Department probe into building renovations at the Fed is over. US drivers see gas prices jump to highest level since 2023 as Iran war drags on According to motor club AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline jumped to $3.79 Tuesday, up from $2.98 before the war. Hot off the Wire playlist Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Online or in-person gaming: Which is better? Farmer-owned supermarket sets example for better remuneration model Farmer-owned supermarket sets example for better remuneration model Energy secretary says administration is open to suspending federal gas tax Energy secretary says administration is open to suspending federal gas tax Is El Niño about to reshape the Pacific again? Is El Niño about to reshape the Pacific again?
Iran war has US farmers worried about the cost and availability of fertilizer Farmers have complained about costly fertilizer for years, but prices have soared even higher since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28.
US Mint can produce Trump commemorative gold coin after arts commission approves design The members of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts are supporters of the Republican president and were appointed by him this year.
DOJ investigation into Powell could backfire on Trump and keep Fed chair in office Trump tapped former Fed official Kevin Warsh to succeed Powell, but his nomination stalled due to the investigation.
Chances of a Federal Reserve rate cut fade as inflation worsens The jump in gas prices stemming from the war in Iran has had another impact that may also affect many Americans' finances: higher interest rates.
Deficit Tops $1 Trillion The U.S. budget deficit topped $1T through February, though 12% lower YoY as tariff revenues surged 294% to $151B — surpassing corporate tax r…
Fed keeps key rate unchanged, sees limited economic effect from Iran war Powell said he has "no intention" of leaving the central bank until a Justice Department probe into building renovations at the Fed is over.
US drivers see gas prices jump to highest level since 2023 as Iran war drags on According to motor club AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline jumped to $3.79 Tuesday, up from $2.98 before the war.
