The $40 trillion national debt isn't just a number in Washington. It can make borrowing more expensive for everyday Americans, and every realistic plan to bring it down involves tradeoffs.

The federal debt reached $40 trillion as the government adds red ink at a rapid rate. That's leading nervous investors to demand higher interest rates —pushing up borrowing costs…

The United States is digging itself into an ever-deeper debt hole.

The national debt is now over $40 trillion, a historic high that economists warn is bad news for the United States.

WASHINGTON -- The US national debt has surpassed $40 trillion for the first time in history, according to data released by the Treasury Department on Wednesday.