February 6, 2019 10:09AM 

# What About the Debt Crisis? 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) 

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In his State of the Union [address](https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/05/politics/donald-trump-state-of-the-union-2019-transcript/index.html), President Trump proposed new spending on infrastructure, health research, border security, and paid family leave. He lauded big increases in defense spending and the costly farm bill passed in December.

But no mention of the largest problem facing the government and the U.S. economy—massive and rising federal debt.

![Media Name: debt.png](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/wp-content/uploads/debt.png?itok=lS6e1eGC) 

Source: Congressional Budget Office.

##### Related Tags 

[Tax and Budget Policy](https://www.cato.org/tax-budget-policy) 

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