As the United States enters 2026, the national mood regarding the country’s balance sheet is sour. Following a tumultuous 2025, marked by historic government shutdowns and record spending, a new report indicates that the vast majority of the electorate is demanding immediate legislative attention to the nation’s financial health—and, in particular, its $38 trillion national debt.
According to the January 2026 index sponsored by the nonpartisan Peter G. Peterson Foundation, released Wednesday, 82% of voters agree that lawmakers must spend more time addressing the national debt. The index is 51 (with 100 being neutral), six points lower than January 2025 — indicating that voters want to address the unsustainable national debt and budget outlook.
The sharp decline in confidence follows a year of unprecedented fiscal turbulence. The foundation notes that 2025 witnessed the “longest government shutdown in history,” the “most expensive reconciliation bill,” and the “highest interest costs ever.” These events appear to have crystallized voter opinion, pushing the debt crisis to the forefront of the national conversation as the 2026 election cycle begins.
‘Understandably concerned‘
Michael A. Peterson, CEO of the Peterson Foundation, linked the public’s anxiety directly to economic consequences that hit voters’ wallets.
