US national debt hits $40 trillion, how much is owed to the public

Treasury's daily count puts $32.3 trillion with outside investors and $7.76 trillion in accounts the government owes itself.

Total public debt reached $40.07 trillion on August 26, 2026, Treasury's daily count shows.
$32.3 trillion is debt held by the public: investors, banks, foreign governments.
$7.76 trillion is intragovernmental holdings, one federal account owing another, not new borrowing.

Why it matters: An account owing itself has no creditor to call it; only debt held by outsiders is real leverage.

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