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Index/Topics/Gross National Debt

Gross National Debt

The total amount of debt owed by the federal government, including debt held by the public and intragovernmental debt.

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Feb 3, 2026

How do intragovernmental holdings of Social Security affect the federal debt limit and debt‑held‑by‑the‑public calculations?

—chiefly the special Treasury securities owned by the —are counted as part of gross federal debt but are distinct from debt held by the public, and their movements shift where the government records i...

Jan 13, 2026

What are the methodological differences between 'gross national debt', 'debt held by the public', and ten‑year approved borrowing estimates?

Gross national debt, debt held by the public, and ten‑year approved borrowing estimates are three related but methodologically distinct ways of measuring federal borrowing: gross debt is the arithmeti...