During testimony before Congress on Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen emphasized the need for lawmakers to consider the rising national debt — and its unsustainable trajectory — when considering policy choices.
In response to a question about the financial risks posed by the national debt from Congressman Steve Pearce (R-NM), Yellen said:
"Let me state in the strongest possible terms: I agree that what you're showing here represents a trend that, given current spending and taxation decisions, is going to lead to an unsustainable debt situation, with rising interest rates and declining investment in the United States that will further harm productivity growth and living standards. I believe a key thing that Congress should be taking into account when designing fiscal policy is the need to achieve sustainability of this debt path over time.”
Watch a clip of the full exchange above, or learn more about the key drivers of our growing debt.
Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images
Further Reading
House Reconciliation Bill Would Add Trillions to the National Debt
The bill would increase debt by $3.0 trillion over the next 10 years, driving it from nearly 100 percent of GDP now to 124 percent of GDP by 2034.
House Reconciliation Bill Would Increase the National Debt by More Than Any Other Recent Legislation
The House recently passed the largest reconciliation bill ever. CBO estimates it would add $2.4 trillion (excluding interest) to the national debt over 10 years.
United States Is Borrowing at a Higher Rate than the Global Average, Warns IMF
New IMF reports serve as a warning to all countries that global fiscal and economic conditions are veering into dangerous territory.