LETTER: Debt is so huge that interest costs more than U.S. defense

To Ozaukee Press:

There are some numbers that many Americans, especially our elected officials in Washington D.C., seem anxious to avoid:

At the end of July 2026, our budget deficit was $1.8 trillion. In recent years, this number has increased at a rapid rate, while at the same time Congress has approved significant tax cuts. Everyone is happy about tax cuts, but now our government must borrow money to cover the difference.

On top of this, our national debt at the end of July was more than $40 trillion.  The interest that we pay on this debt exceeds what we pay for our defense.

The numbers are reaching alarming levels, yet Congress seems to be doing little. We all know that there is no free lunch.” We must sound the alarm to those in charge in Congress, and we must do it now.

John Taucher

Port Washington