‘Starve the beast’? The $40tn cost of Republicans’ false promises to cut spending

A Guardian analysis argues the huge U.S. federal debt is the product of a long-standing Republican strategy to reduce taxes and shrink government. It says debt hit a new high above $40 trillion.

The analysis traces years of Republican budget policy, arguing it led to high federal debt. It points to tariffs being struck down and falling behind the deficit burdening America.

It explains the debt as a deliberate political strategy rather than an accident. That framing changes how to think about the fiscal challenge ahead.