The Capitol building, seat of the US Congress

* The US government public debt has risen by more than $30 trillion over the past 25 years.

The ongoing debate between the Democratic and Republican parties in the United States over the current government shutdown largely avoids the tough financial issues looming over the country’s future, including rising public debt and the long-term financial sustainability of Social Security and healthcare.

The 15th partial federal government shutdown since 1981 began due to Democrats’ demands for spending, which a nonpartisan organization called the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget says will cost about $1.5 trillion over the next decade, adding to the roughly $38 trillion public debt.

Maya MacGuineas, chair of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget advocating deficit reduction, said, “We have huge real problems in this country, and we are stuck in a constant messaging war between the parties, instead of real attempts to bridge these divisions and do something to address our financial problems.”

The Senate has repeatedly voted on two competing funding packages: one is a bill passed by the Republican-controlled House and supported by Trump that would reopen federal agencies at the latest funding levels until November 21. Democrats prefer their own bill, which would mainly increase spending on healthcare.

There has been little discussion on how to reduce the roughly $2 trillion federal deficit.

Over the past 44 years, most government shutdowns have been linked to financial issues such as spending, deficits, and the need for a balanced budget. But since the start of Trump’s first term in 2017, the government has had three shutdowns due to social issues including immigration and healthcare.

The current standoff centers on $1.7 trillion allocated for agency operations, which is about a quarter of annual federal spending.

Meanwhile, independent analysts warn that the US is in a deteriorating financial position, with debt growing faster than the economy, interest payments on debt crowding out program spending, and financial fragility threatening social service trust funds for seniors.

Public debt rose from $5.67 trillion to $37.88 trillion over the past 25 years, continuing to increase regardless of which party controls the White House or Congress.

Interest payments on debt alone now exceed $1 trillion annually, more than the US government spends on defense, and funding for Social Security and Medicare is expected to decline in 2033, potentially leading to widespread cuts in beneficiary payments.

Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have warned about the impact of higher spending on debt during the heated shutdown debate. However, most Republican rhetoric has focused on Democrats’ “hardline” priorities rather than fiscal resilience, while Democrats have completely ignored the financial issue and blamed Republicans for increasing the deficit through tax cuts and spending laws under Trump.

According to Congressional Budget Office estimates, Trump’s bill is expected to add $4.1 trillion to the deficit over ten years, with expectations that the cost could be offset by about $4 trillion in new revenue from Trump’s tariff fees.