The climb doesn't pick sides.

Updated May 28, 2026 · U.S. Treasury (Debt to the Penny)

Key figures

Democratic terms$17.7T

Republican terms$15.7T

Difference$2.0T

Terms counted · since 20017

Federal debt added by party · since 2001

Splitting the debt by the party of the sitting president is the most common way people try to assign blame — so it's worth doing honestly, with the same sourced figures behind every bar.

What this means

Whichever party holds the White House, the debt has gone up. Over the last two decades the totals added under Democratic and Republican administrations are within a few trillion of each other — the trend line is bipartisan.

Spending and taxes are set by Congress and the president together, and large bills (wars, recessions, pandemics, tax changes) span administrations. The party label marks the period, not the sole cause.

Why it matters

It defuses the blame game

Both parties have added comparable amounts. The honest takeaway isn't 'their side did it' — it's that the structural drivers outlast any one administration.

Control of Congress matters too

The president signs the budget, but Congress writes it. Unified vs divided government shapes every total here.

See it by president →

Levels, not just dollars

Raw dollars always rise with inflation and a growing economy. Measured against GDP, the climb is real on either side of the aisle.

See it versus GDP →

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By presidentcurrent term$2.9T Versus GDP123% Wartime vs peacetime1st Adjusted for inflation2.5× Interest vs other spending$1.02T

Each party's total is the sum of the change in total public debt outstanding (U.S. Treasury) over its terms since 2001. It marks the period, not the cause — spending is set by Congress and the president together. The newsletter preview is illustrative. DebtPerPerson is independent and nonpartisan, for general education, not financial or political advice.

The climb doesn't pick sides.

Watch this number move.

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