Is US debt in crisis?
Whether the U.S. debt is in a "crisis" depends on who you ask, but the data for 2026 shows we have entered a significantly more urgent phase. While there hasn't been a sudden "collapse," the fiscal math is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
The Verdict
We aren't in an "acute" crisis (like a bank run or a default), but we are in a "structural" crisis. The window for making gradual, painless adjustments—like small tax tweaks or minor spending cuts—is closing. Most experts agree that the longer Congress waits to address the gap between spending and revenue, the more "painful" the eventual solution (high taxes or major benefit cuts) will be.
