As debt surpasses $40 trillion, the bill for Washington spending comes due The Washington PostOpinion | $40 Trillion Debt? The Ancient Sumerians Wouldn’t Have Cared. The New York TimesVance: Bessent has ‘very discreet plan’ to shrink $40 trillion national debt The HillBessent says there's a 'very good chance' U.S. budget deficit under Trump has peaked CNBCAt $40 trillion, federal debt is astronomical Dallas News