United States &Quot;National Debt&Quot;

Did a running "DOGE Clock" on a website that monitors the national debt say efforts to reduce government waste, fraud and abuse had already saved over $8 billion by January 22, 2025? No, that's not true: The privately run website includes a disclaimer that the DOGE Clock shows the "Real-Time Savings Objective," not actual savings. Congress has yet to pass…

Does a viral video show proof that the U.S. national debt was paid off in 2017? No, that's not true: The U.S. Treasury website shows the current U.S. national debt, which is about $33.7 trillion, a number accepted by U.S. financial markets, independent economists and the Federal Reserve Bank. The video relies on paperwork that has nothing to do with…

Was 80% of all U.S. dollars in existence created within the "last two months" as of April 16, 2022? No, that's not true: The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), the agency within the Department of Treasury responsible for producing U.S. currency notes, told Lead Stories that the claim is false. Additionally, other "evidence" discussed in the claim is based…

Can your Social Security card be used like a credit card? No, that's not true: The Federal Reserve Bank deals with banks only, not serving individual customers. The FBI is aware of this false claim, and people who try to extract money from the Federal Reserve could face criminal charges. The claim appeared in an Instagram post (archived here) where…

Is it true that President Trump is the only U.S. president to simultaneiously hold records for the biggest stock market drop, the highest national debt, the most members of his team convicted of crimes, and the most pandemic-related infections globally? No, that's not true: Trump does not hold "records" for all of these things, as other presidents have racked up…