US Government is Insolvent

Monday, March 23, 2026

The U.S. government is insolvent. That's not hyperbole -- it's the conclusion drawn directly from the Treasury Department's own consolidated financial statements...

Posted by Jpw at 03:55 PM | 72 COMMENTS | permalink

NEW: "The Treasury just declared the U.S. insolvent. The media missed it." fortune.com/2026/03/23/u...[image or embed]
" Mueller, She Wrote (@muellershewrote.com) Mar 23, 2026 at 3:12 PM

Comments

Thanks magat scum

#1 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-03-23 03:59 PM

Trump's friends were not impressed when he bankrupt a beautiful large casino. So now he has bankrupt the USA in just one year. If his friends still are not impressed ...

Today it is official. The Chinese Century has begun.

#2 | Posted by moder8 at 2026-03-23 04:04 PM

Great job Dummkopf Trumpf and Bibi!

We're so glad here in America that Israelis enjoy world class universal healthcare while we in the US suffer with the Big Beautiful Bill, medical bankruptcies, and an insolvent government.

Is there any other Muslim country we can attack for you while our economy crashes, Bibi?

#3 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-03-23 04:05 PM

America isn't this way because Trump is president, Trump is president because that's how America is.

#4 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2026-03-23 04:19 PM

Yeah, Trump sucks dirty balls.

But he's just the dirty-balls icing on the ---- cake.

#5 | Posted by horstngraben at 2026-03-23 04:24 PM

More tax cuts for billionaires should fix it.

------- morons.

#6 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-03-23 04:28 PM

It's a repeated cycle, which has been going on for a good part of my lifetime, but really, the worst parts started with Saint Ronnie.

Republicans cut taxes on the wealthy, sever all social safety nets, get us into a war and run up the debt.
Democrats come in and re-institute some parts of the social safety net, with concessions to the rabid wackadoodles known as "conservatives," cut the deficit and make progress on the debt, and do what they can to get us out of wars. Then the Republicans blame them for the staggering deficits and debt that they weren't completely able to eliminate, and win all houses of Congress and the White House ... lather, rinse repeat.

Our country won't be able to survive Republicans, so hopefully, we're seeing the elimination of their influence in Congress this year ... hopefully, we won't get a bunch of conservadems to gum up the works, but even that's a better option than these Republican clowns working for Putin.

#7 | Posted by chuffy at 2026-03-23 04:32 PM

All I know is that every time a republican is president my retirement savings take a massive hit

#8 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-03-23 04:36 PM

This is the GOP's wet dream.

They're finally going to drown the baby in the bath tub because you know there's only one way they'll "fix" this- cuts cuts cuts.

Not just partial cuts, but complete cuts. VA? Gone. SSA? Gone. Medicare/medicaid? Gone.

The only things going untouched are DoD and DHS because damnit they need to control a revolting populace somehow.

So glad I might be getting out of this dump.

#9 | Posted by jpw at 2026-03-23 04:37 PM

-Not just partial cuts, but complete cuts. VA? Gone. SSA? Gone. Medicare/medicaid? Gone.

When?

Cause....there are quite a few people who are dead without those programs.

And I know I'm not gonna pay more(well...any really) taxes if they're gonna cut those programs.

#10 | Posted by eberly at 2026-03-23 04:42 PM

I would think the first step would be to stop paying any interest on the debt

#11 | Posted by eberly at 2026-03-23 04:44 PM

More tax cuts for billionaires should fix it.
------- morons.
#6 | POSTED BY SPEAKSOFTLY

You're clueless. The US government, regardless of the revenue, will spend beyond revenue.

Taxation isn't the problem. As I have been saying for sometime, spending is the issue.

You don't even know where its going...

Example: Stacey Abrams NGO was created 30 days before it received $2 billion dollars.

#12 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-03-23 04:54 PM

I agree with Eberly:
stop interest payment on the debt, even if it hurts the credit rating of the USA.
Secondly, adopt the finance reforms mentioned in the article.

Next, we must pass a bill to end campaign finance by PACs. Outlaw them. Contrary to what Romney famously said, corporations are not people.

Finally, we must admit the defense spending party is over. The current war is going to bankrupt us and we have to stop pretending to be the world's policeman when it is obvious we are the world's largest de-stabilizing agent. Major cuts in defense are needed.

#13 | Posted by e1g1 at 2026-03-23 04:55 PM

I looked up the definition of insolvent and it's different for a public entity.

but I don't think the US Government is actually insolvent.

I would think the world would be behaving differently at the moment the US Government is declared insolvent.

#14 | Posted by eberly at 2026-03-23 04:57 PM

You don't even know where its going...

Example: Stacey Abrams NGO was created 30 days before it received $2 billion dollars.

#12 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-03-23 04:54 PM | Reply | Flag:

I found some of it...

www.offthepress.com

#15 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2026-03-23 04:58 PM

Example: Argentina got $40 Billion to bail out it's failed economy.

#16 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-03-23 04:58 PM

Our country won't be able to survive Republicans

State, Local, Federal government spending just keep eating up more and more of the GDP. Remember GDP has government spending included, ergo the private economy keeps shrinking ...

Blaming one party is how the US got to this party.

#17 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-03-23 04:59 PM

You don't think the US defaulting and tanking its credit rating would be disastrous?

Bond market collapses. Dollar value tanks. Stock market spirals.

And then all those other things happen anyway.

#18 | Posted by jpw at 2026-03-23 05:01 PM

The ~~US government~~ Republican Party, regardless of the revenue, will spend beyond revenue.

Trump and his administration have increased the deficit by 25%

Clinton handed BushJr a surplus Budget.

Obama reduced the deficit.

You're gaslighting because you're an idiot.

Taxation isn't the problem.

Boolsheet.

The nonstop tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans handed out by republicans, coupled with our 26 years of war in Western Asia are the problem.

Then there's Trump who is draining our taxes for his own benefit.

#19 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-03-23 05:03 PM

This was a long time coming.

Thank Ronny Regan for the "trickle down theory".

China will be the new world leader.

#20 | Posted by bat4255 at 2026-03-23 05:04 PM

-You don't think the US defaulting and tanking its credit rating would be disastrous?

Yes it would be.

Do you think that's actually happened?

You found an article that declared the US government to be insolvent.

Do you believe it?

#21 | Posted by eberly at 2026-03-23 05:05 PM

Blaming one party is how the US got to this party.
#17 | POSTED BY ONETRUMPER

You're a Chinese immigrant, don't makes sense you're not aware of American history.

You're a useful idiot for Trump.

I'm surprised you don't choke on all the gas you're spreading.

#22 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-03-23 05:07 PM

Example: Argentina got $40 Billion to bail out it's failed economy.
#16 | POSTED BY REDIAL

Of course DialAgain needs to deflect. Because he doesn't understand what he's talking about.

See this is the financial illiteracy of Lumpers.Trump had a $20 billion currency exchange which hasn't lost ANY value ergo its not spent money; The other $20 billion was in private bank loans.

#23 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-03-23 05:08 PM

You're a Chinese immigrant, don't makes sense you're not aware of American history.

You offer no proof of your assertion.

I offer the perspective of the greatest historian, documentor and philosopher in American history. Do you know who that was?

#24 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-03-23 05:10 PM

#25 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-03-23 05:12 PM

I offer the perspective of the greatest historian, documentor and philosopher in American history. Do you know who that was?
#24 | POSTED BY ONEIRONAUT

Kurt Vonnegut?

#26 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2026-03-23 05:16 PM

Alexander Fraser Tytler

He identified "Eight Stages of a Democracy", from beginning to end.
1. ------- to spiritual faith.
2. Spiritual faith to great courage.
3. Courage to liberty.
4. Liberty to abundance.
5. Abundance to complacency.
6. Complacency to apathy.
7. Apathy to dependence.
8. Dependence back to -------.

"A democracy can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship".

Guess which stage America is?

#27 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-03-23 05:17 PM

Kurt Vonnegut?
#26 | POSTED BY DOC_SARVIS

Interesting choice, he died of TBI right?

#28 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-03-23 05:19 PM

I am reading Kurt Vonnegut's brilliant Welcome to the Monkey House this week.

Acerbic, witty, entertaining, crisp-- as expected.

#29 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-03-23 05:24 PM

This downgrade already happened under Dummkopf Trumpf's watch.

Austerity measures coming.

#30 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-03-23 05:27 PM

Republicans break into your house, shoot your dog, loot your silverware drawer, crack your safe, raid your refrigerator and eat your last ham sandwich.

Democrats break into your house, shoot your dog, loot your silverware drawer, crack your safe, raid your refrigerator and leave you a ham sandwich.

#31 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2026-03-23 05:30 PM

Blaming one party is how the US got to this party.

#17 | Posted by oneironaut

Pretending its everyone's fault when one side is vastly worse is how the US got to this point.

Reaganomics - REPUBLICANS FAULT

Iraq War - REPUBLICANS FAULT

More tax cuts for the rich - REPUBLICANS FAULT

Iran War - REPUBLICANS FAULT

Even more tax cuts for the rich - REPUBLICANS FAULT

#32 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-03-23 06:04 PM

Guess which stage America is?

#27 | Posted by oneironaut

You went off the rails at #6 - which should read - ABUNDANCE TO BOTTOMLESS GREED FOR THE SUPER RICH

#7 Super rich take everything
#8 Super rich brainwash morons to blame minorities
#9 Morons support fascism

#33 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-03-23 06:06 PM

Bankruptcy number seven for Pres Trump?

More from the cited article ...

... The United States national debt crossed $39 trillion for the first time Tuesday, arriving at the grim milestone less than five months after it first hit $38 trillion in late October"a pace of accumulation that budget watchdogs and academic economists are now calling, with unusual unanimity, "unsustainable."

The milestone, confirmed in Wednesday's Daily Treasury Statement, lands amid a politically charged moment: it comes roughly two weeks before the ten-year anniversary of President Trump's 2016 campaign promise to eliminate the national debt within eight years.

Instead, the gross national debt has roughly doubled since Trump first took office -- it was $19.9 trillion in January 2017. ...

[emphasis mine]

#34 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-03-23 07:13 PM

How Much Did President Biden Add to the Debt?
www.crfb.org

... Over the four years of President Biden's term " from January 2021 through January 2025 -- we estimate that he approved $4.7 trillion in new ten-year debt through legislation and executive actions. ...

#35 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-03-23 07:16 PM

So glad I might be getting out of this dump.

#9 | Posted by jpw at 2026-03-23 04:37 PM | Reply

Did you meet the trucker of your dreams at the Flying J., and he's taking you to Mexico to perform in the donkey shows?

#36 | Posted by fortfisher at 2026-03-23 08:04 PM

#37 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-03-23 08:14 PM

The most incompetent ---- ever, and 70 million imbeciles voted for him. Allegedly. Let's see the ballots, you fat, lying pedophile.

#38 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-03-23 08:25 PM

#36 | Posted by fortfisher

---- off, idiot, nobody gives a ---- about you or Coward Ballwasher or OneTinyNut or Afatpoofter.

But you're just a ---.

#39 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-03-23 08:26 PM

Been one of the goals of the fascist element of the Republican Party for a long long time, to bankrupt America so the oligarchs could rule and FDRs safety net could be first, reduced, then torpedoed.

#40 | Posted by Hughmass at 2026-03-24 07:03 AM

Been one of the goals of the fascist element of the Republican Party for a long long time, to bankrupt America so the oligarchs could rule and FDRs safety net could be first, reduced, then torpedoed.

#40 | Posted by Hughmass

"Starve The Beast" has been their MO since Reagan.

en.wikipedia.org

#41 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-03-24 07:54 AM

All part of the Plan.

Traumatize workers and take away funding and the financial ability to resist.

"We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected," Vought said in a video revealed by ProPublica and the research group Documented in October. "When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work, because they are increasingly viewed as the villains. We want their funding to be shut down ... We want to put them in trauma."

Who the hell even talks like that?

#42 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-03-24 12:57 PM

Who the hell even talks like that?
#42 | Posted by donnerboy

A sociopath.

Empathy is what separates MAGA from normal people.

#43 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-03-24 01:04 PM

what a load of useless crud.

all worried and s/t while at the same time ignoring .. attacking and slandering

anyone who dares to even talk about fraud.

Nick Shirley being slandered by Newsom is a good example surpassed only

by dishonesty here.

#44 | Posted by shrimptacodan at 2026-03-24 03:46 PM

"all worried and s/t "

not a bad thing and actually a worthwhile endeavor.......in the hands of a professional....which

leaves anyone here out.

#45 | Posted by shrimptacodan at 2026-03-24 03:52 PM

Pretending its everyone's fault when one side is vastly worse is how the US got to this point.

"Vote for us. We spend billions,but it's less than their billions.

Vote for us. Their laws are horrible. We leave them in place so you feel it. We really, really don't like those laws. It wouldn't be good to revoke them.

Vote for us. We not really as evil as they are.

Vote for us. We controlled everything before and should be allowed to control it all again. We didn't fix anything, but we will next time.

Vote for us. Trust us. Really."

#46 | Posted by Petrous at 2026-03-24 08:29 PM

Kinda like 45 years of tax cuts benefiting the already wealthy, a war, or two, off the books and unpaid for and the concentration of the nation's wealth in the hands of people that proudly don't pay taxes were bad ideas, huh?

#47 | Posted by morris at 2026-03-24 09:12 PM

The nonstop tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans

It's not just the wealthiest Americans. In order to placate the poor and middle class modest tax giveaways are thrown at them every time as well.

40 years ago we did not have the child tax credit, the dependent credit, student loan interest deduction, overtime deduction, social security exemption, HSA deduction, FSA deduction, section 125 plans to deduct health insurance, college tuition credit, etc.

But over time as corporations pushed the cost of health insurance, retirement onto the backs of the employees Congress decided to hand out these giveaways to the bottom 99% to make it slightly less expensive while avoiding the issue of how the greed of wall street was strangling American society.

The sheer number of people outside the 1% that gets a $500 tax break is what is dooming our economy.

In order to restore fiscal stability the entire system needs to be revised and it will cause horrible pain and Congress is too afraid to do it. The reality is that restoring a 90% tax rate on billionaires will not solve the problem.

While productivity has soared over the past 50 years, very little of that benefit has gone to the bottom 90% with wages barely keeping pace with inflation. All of the benefit flows up to the top.

Wall Street has built an economic system in America that is a house of cards. Half of Americans over 40 have NO RETIREMENT SAVINGS and Wall Street and the GOP is pushing to kill social security through half assed measures like ----- Scott requiring it to be "re-authorized" every five years (which will inject chaos into retirement planning for the middle class) to a "bi-partisan" group of do nothings in Congress suggesting retirement age be raised to 70 to 75.

The day is coming where social security will no longer be able to pay 100% of the benefits promised to the workers. What will that play out like? You think America is going to be fine when benefits to seniors (who are already starving on social security now) are cut by a 1/3? They certainly aren't going to lift the salary cap on social security taxes on millionaires. Neither party has the stones to do that.

My guess is they will do "emergency funding" financed through debt to keep kicking the can down the road. That is what they do best. But then the social security benefits will be tied to Congress being functional and just look at the mess Trump has caused in just over a year.

Dark days are ahead for America thanks to the greed of the 1%.

The pitchforks are coming.

#48 | Posted by Nixon at 2026-03-25 08:20 AM

"a "bi-partisan" group of do nothings in Congress suggesting retirement age be raised to 70 to 75."

So, your solution is to complain about the status, and then demonize any effort to address the problem.

This is why there are no solutions (not there really has to be).

I've been hearing my entire life that SS is on the brink of collapse.

99% of the people chanting that are completely clueless, regardless of what side of the aisle they're on.

I'm reasonable....but here on the DR, that's code for sticking my head in the sand pretending the place isn't on fire.

I think SS has been the easiest ginned up calamity to be used to keep folks right where they are on the correct side of the fence, politically speaking.

It's sad, really....that almost all Americans allow themselves to be herded like cattle on this issue.

#49 | Posted by eberly at 2026-03-25 09:14 AM

This why we need DOGE part II and impeachment for activist judges. It's nearly impossible to fight the graft when the entire Democrat Government Industrial Complex is working against the American people.

#50 | Posted by visitor_ at 2026-03-25 11:00 AM

In 2016 I asked my Republican mother, "Don't your finances always do better under Democrats?"
"They do" she answered, "but I don't want black people getting welfare."

#51 | Posted by TFDNihilist at 2026-03-25 11:01 AM

At least it was the truth......LOL

#52 | Posted by eberly at 2026-03-25 11:15 AM

The irony is that republicans at the federal and state level approve bills that includes black people getting welfare.

#53 | Posted by eberly at 2026-03-25 11:25 AM

It's not just our current state. Unfounded liabilities. Medicare/Medicaid/Social Security are on an impossible trajectory.

We can't tax our way out of this. I wish we could. We do have to raise taxes. And we need considerable spending cuts. People like big government as long as they don't have to pay for it.

#54 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-03-25 11:51 AM

republicans at the federal and state level approve bills that includes black people getting welfare

Are you nuts?

Republicans hate Black Americans receiving welfare.

Reagan popularized the term "welfare queen" yo attack Black welfare recipients. Republicans have used racism as a wedge issue my entire life.

Republicans at the federal and state level do everything they can to eliminate programs that help Black and Brown people.

There's numerous examples of republicans at the state level doing everything they can to kick black and brown people off of welfare.

#55 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-03-25 11:55 AM

At least it was the truth...
#52 | Posted by eberly

It's kind of pure the way Republicans love racism more than they love money. And they do love money.

#56 | Posted by TFDNihilist at 2026-03-25 11:58 AM

We can't tax our way out of this.
#54 | POSTED BY BULLBRINGER

"We can tax cut our way out of this." - Republican Motto

Hey stupid, you're part of the problem.

You voted in every election to make life worse for Americans and better for the extremely wealthy.

You're too stupid to accept the truth.

But it's the truth regardless.

#57 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-03-25 12:00 PM

"We can't tax our way out of this. I wish we could. We do have to raise taxes. "

You keep voting like we don't.

And when the Trump tax cuts were expiring, you were dead silent when they got renewed, requiring new trillions of borrowing.

Why didn't you speak up then, when it mattered???

Remember: if you clutch your pearls hard enough...they'll break.

#58 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-03-25 12:07 PM

Our biggest Welfare Queens are billionaires and corporations:

www.youtube.com

yt short, about a minute

#59 | Posted by Corky at 2026-03-25 12:12 PM

"Are you nuts?
Republicans hate Black Americans receiving welfare."

But they still authorize it.

Republicans control how many state houses? Governor's mansions?

Quite a few........go look at how they distribute funds to welfare, medicaid, etc......

they still hand it out.

Republican voters are so stupid and blind they don't even realize that.

#60 | Posted by eberly at 2026-03-25 12:32 PM

"It's kind of pure the way Republicans love racism more than they love money."

well said

#61 | Posted by eberly at 2026-03-25 12:40 PM

Republicans control how many state houses? Governor's mansions?
Quite a few........go look at how they distribute funds to welfare, medicaid, etc......
they still hand it out.
Republican voters are so stupid and blind they don't even realize that.
#60 | Posted by eberly

They'd stop giving welfare to black people if they could find a way. For example, when Republicans put drug tests on welfare recipients.

I'm not sure you realize that's how Republicans think.

#62 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-03-25 01:10 PM

I won't bother with looking it up but I'm sure the vast majority of people in Kansas (fairly typical red state) receiving forms of welfare such as snap, medicaid, free school lunches, EITC, etc.....are WHITE.

Cutting those programs mostly hurt white people. Not to mention it indirectly hurts white business owners when poor people have less to spend in their community.

Racists, I imagine, are fine with that so long as they're told blacks are also harmed. Racists are racists first and probably don't care about the collateral damage.

#63 | Posted by eberly at 2026-03-25 01:16 PM

"go look at how they distribute funds to welfare, medicaid, etc......they still hand it out."

Well, yeah, if you set the bar at zero. Yes, they hand it out; all states do.

But at what percentage of the budget? According to Google AI:
New Mexico (20%), West Virginia (18%), Oregon (17%), Louisiana (17%), and New York (16%)

#64 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-03-25 01:36 PM

" You keep voting like we don't."

Voting Democrat (which is the only thing you care about) won't fix this problem. Nobody in Washington has the stomach to deal with it. The only politician who spoke about our debt problem AND proposed solutions (one can think those solutions sucked, but nobody else was proposing anything) was Paul Ryan and he's long gone.

#65 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-03-25 09:40 PM

Voting Democrat (which is the only thing you care about) won't fix this problem

The problem is Trump, his family, his close friends and the Republican Party, that have been his enablers.

Voting for democrats will fix the problem.

#66 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-03-26 04:37 AM

" Voting for democrats will fix the problem.

#66 | POSTED BY CLOWNSHACK AT 2026-03-26 04:37 AM | FLAG: "

It won't fix our debt problem and unfounded liabilities problem.

#67 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-03-26 12:19 PM

" It won't fix our debt problem and unfounded liabilities problem."

You voted for that.

When it came time to choose between letting the tax cuts expire, or renewing them at the cost of trillions of new borrowing, you were dead silent.

You don't get to complain now, about what you built prior.

Take credit (or blame) where it's due.

#68 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-03-26 12:23 PM

Nah, we need more MAGAty self-hooted fiscal watchdogs and budget balancers to reinforce the Congressional Capon Caucus.

#69 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2026-03-26 12:25 PM

It won't fix our debt problem and unfounded liabilities problem.
#67 | Posted by BellRinger

It would be a start.
Raising taxes would address the debt problem
Better than Republicans address the debt problem by lowering taxes.

#70 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-03-26 12:26 PM

"unfounded liabilities"

I think we've discovered the problem....

#71 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-03-26 12:27 PM

Danforth,

Voting Dem will not fix this problem. If you want to argue the GOP is MORE responsible, fine. But don't pretend that Dems will come in and wave a magic wand and make it all go away.

" unfounded liabilities"

Take it up with the CBO.

#72 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-03-26 02:03 PM

Drudge Retort Headlines

Hot Rotisserie Chicken and the Stupidity of the Government (59 comments)

Spirit to Halt All Flights (41 comments)

The DNC: A Report from the Maine Democratic Party Convention (40 comments)

US Falls Below Ukraine in Press Freedom (17 comments)

May Day Workers Rights March (15 comments)

Trump to Reduce US Troops in Germany, Pentagon Shocked (14 comments)

Woman Wins Kentucky Derby as Trainer for First Time (12 comments)

Israel Intercepts 22 Humanitarian Aid Ships Enroute to Gaza (12 comments)

Trump: It's 'Treasonous' to Say US Not Winning His War (11 comments)

America Is Officially an Empire in Decline (10 comments)