National debt tops $22 trillion for the 1st time in history

Donald Trump.
(Image credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

The Treasury Department reported on Tuesday that for the first time, the national debt has soared above $22 trillion.

The national debt was at $19.95 trillion when President Trump took office. Over the last month, the national debt increased by $30 billion to $22.012 trillion, quickly rising due to the 2017 Republican tax bill and an increase in domestic and military spending. Experts say this could lead to an increase in interest rates, and make it more difficult for the government to cover programs.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.