National Debt Hits $9 Trillion for First Time

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The New York Sun

WASHINGTON — The national debt has hit $9 trillion for the first time.

The Treasury Department, which issues a daily accounting of the debt, said yesterday that the debt subject to limit was at $9 trillion on Tuesday. It was $8.996 trillion on Monday.

Last month, Congress passed and President Bush signed into law an increase in the government’s borrowing ceiling to $9.815 trillion. It was the fifth debt limit increase since Mr. Bush took office in January 2001. Those increases have totaled $3.865 trillion. The administration contends the rising debt reflects such factors as slow economic growth during the 2001 recession, the September 11, 2001, attacks and the cost of fighting terrorism.

It took the country from George Washington until Ronald Reagan to reach the first $1 trillion in debt.


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