Steve Cortes, president of the League of American Workers (LAW), said on March 21 that the $39 trillion national debt is constraining policy choices for the United States. Cortes made his remarks in a post on X, where he discussed war, debt, and economic conditions.
The issue is significant because rising national debt can limit government flexibility in responding to both domestic and international challenges. According to Cortes’s post on X, “Whether you’re pro-war or against, $39 Trillion in Debt means our options are very limited, as was just demonstrated by the Capital Markets.” The post included a video explaining these points.
According to the Joint Economic Committee, the national debt stood at $38.86 trillion and was increasing by an average of $7.23 billion per day. The growth rate has raised questions about long-term fiscal health and policy flexibility. Treasury data tracks these figures daily.
Interest payments on the debt have grown to exceed spending on national defense in some recent fiscal years. Interest costs reached $882 billion compared with $874 billion in defense discretionary spending. This affects how the government allocates resources for security. Analysts from different organizations have noted implications for future budgeting.
Cortes serves as president of the League of American Workers and previously worked as a financial market strategist and political commentator for networks including Fox News and CNN. He also advised communications during Trump’s presidential campaigns.
LAW was founded in 2022 by Cortes and conducts research and develops proposals on public policies impacting American workers and the economy.
