U.S. debt tops $40 trillion. And, new census report Trump is touting raises concerns

The U.S. debt has surpassed $40 trillion. And, a new census report on noncitizen voting that President Trump is touting has ties to a think tank aligned with him, raising concerns among experts.

<img src='undefined' alt='An electronic display shows the national debt in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 19, 2026. The U.S. national debt exceeded a record 40 trillion USD.'/><p>The U.S. debt has surpassed $40 trillion. And, a new census report on noncitizen voting that President Trump is touting has ties to a think tank aligned with him, raising concerns among experts.</p><p>(Image credit: Mandel Ngan)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=g-s1-139388' />