Fact Check: "The national debt of the United States exceeds $31 trillion."
What We Know
As of June 4, 2025, the total gross national debt of the United States is reported to be approximately $36.21 trillion, which is significantly higher than $31 trillion. This figure represents an increase of $1.56 trillion from the previous year and $10.29 trillion from five years prior (Joint Economic Committee). The U.S. Treasury also provides daily updates on the national debt, confirming that the total public debt outstanding is consistently reported to be above $31 trillion (U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data).
Analysis
The claim that the national debt exceeds $31 trillion is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The Joint Economic Committee's report indicates that the national debt reached $36.21 trillion as of June 2025, which aligns with the data provided by the U.S. Treasury's "Debt to the Penny" dataset, which tracks the total public debt outstanding daily (Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data).
Furthermore, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) notes that the federal debt limit was reinstated at $36.1 trillion in January 2025, further corroborating the assertion that the national debt is well above $31 trillion (Congressional Research Service).
The reliability of these sources is high. The Joint Economic Committee is a bipartisan committee of Congress, and the U.S. Treasury is the official government body responsible for managing federal finances. The CRS is a nonpartisan research arm of Congress that provides objective analysis and information.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that the national debt of the United States exceeds $31 trillion is accurate, as confirmed by multiple authoritative sources. The total gross national debt is currently reported at approximately $36.21 trillion, significantly surpassing the $31 trillion mark.
