Macro Economy6 April 2026
1 min read

US Debt Spiral and Rising Defense Spending Threaten Dollar Stability

Key Facts

1Interest on federal debt is on track to become the largest US expenditure, surpassing Social Security.
2The Pentagon has requested an additional $200 billion as a starting point for the war with Iran.
3President Trump has proposed increasing defense spending from $917 billion to $1.5 trillion.

The United States is facing escalating fiscal risks as interest payments on federal debt are on track to become the nation's largest expenditure, surpassing Social Security. This fiscal deterioration is compounded by a Pentagon request for an additional $200 billion to initiate funding for potential conflict with Iran. Furthermore, President Trump has proposed a significant hike in defense spending, aiming to increase the budget from $917 billion to $1.5 trillion. Analysts suggest that the combination of an aging population and the most precarious geopolitical climate since WWII makes spending cuts politically unfeasible. This "debt spiral" raises serious concerns regarding the long-term sustainability of the US fiscal position and the potential for dollar devaluation. Consequently, these structural concerns are driving interest toward hard assets like gold XAU/USD as a hedge against currency debasement.