$3.1 Trillion: Pandemic Spending Drives The Federal Budget Deficit To A Record

Enlarge this image

The government shortfall for the fiscal year that just ended is far greater than was seen during the height of the Great Recession. The national debt now exceeds the size of the U.S. economy.

Patrick Semansky/AP

hide caption

toggle caption

Patrick Semansky/AP

Coronavirus Live Updates
Red Ink Overflowing: In June, U.S. Borrowed A Typical Year’s Worth

«The increase in the deficit from FY 2019 reflects the effect of COVID-19 on the economy and legislation that created or enhanced programs to protect public health and support hard-hit industries, small businesses, and American individuals and families,» the Treasury statement said.

The higher deficit comes just as Congress and the White House are negotiating a new coronavirus relief package.

While lawmakers and the administration agree on the need for a bill, they remain far apart on the size. While Democrats have pushed for more than $2 trillion in aid, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has called that «outlandish.»

The Coronavirus Crisis
The U.S. Was Already Deep In Debt. This Year’s Deficit Will Be ‘Mind-Boggling’

The federal debt — the total owed by the government — has grown to more than $21 trillion, larger than the size of the U.S. economy.

«This astronomical level of debt is only going to get bigger,» says Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

«Borrowing to combat the pandemic and economic crisis makes sense. But that’s no excuse for the massive tax cuts and spending increases enacted before the pandemic, nor the failure to control the rising costs of our health and retirement programs once normalcy returns,» she added.

• COVID-19
• coronavirus
• federal budget
• Budget deficit