Washington: In an unexpected appeal, the U.S. government is urging its citizens to help reduce the ballooning national debt of $36.7 trillion. Through the official platform Pay.gov, Americans can now donate money via PayPal, Venmo, credit/debit cards, or bank transfers to help the federal government manage its massive debt load.
This initiative is part of a longstanding program called “Gifts to Reduce the Public Debt,” originally launched in 1996. However, its impact has remained marginal—citizens have donated a total of only $67.3 million so far, a mere drop in the ocean compared to the current debt size.
In 2024, public contributions totaled about $2.7 million, and during the first five months of 2025, only $434,500 has been received. Meanwhile, the debt is increasing at a staggering rate of $55,000 every second.
Economists have warned that without immediate and robust fiscal action, the U.S. could soon plunge into a full-scale financial crisis.
On social media, many users mocked the government’s plea. One user commented, “They already take 40% of our income through taxes and policies, and now they have the audacity to ask us to pay off their debt
