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Debt

1 check on the record, newest first.

Verdict mix: 1 True

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Published record

1 reviewed check

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Debt

“Interest on the national debt now costs more than the entire defense budget.”

Verdict: True
CBO’s final tally for fiscal year 2025 puts net interest at $970 billion versus $859 billion in national defense outlays. Interest first crossed above defense in FY2024 and the gap widened in FY2025.CBO / U.S. Treasury · Jul 1, 2026
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© 2026 The Baseline, published and edited by Cory Hepler. Every verdict cites its sources; automated checks are labeled until the editor has read them.Non-partisan in method · Press kit · RSS · Podcast RSS