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Us National Debt
We Need a Bipartisan Commission on Postsecondary Education and Training
Inside Higher Ed·18d ago·neutral
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We Need a Bipartisan Commission on Postsecondary Education and Training Doug Lederman Tue, 05/26/2026 - 03:00 AM There’s much more agreement on what America needs from colleges, universities and other providers than politicians seem able to admit. Co…
Now and then, a ray of hope emerges that maybe we arent doomed to a permanent partisan war over what postsecondary education is and should be. One occurred this month when the last two U.S. under sec… [+8051 chars]
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Published
May 26, 2026, 07:00 AM
Author
Doug Lederman
Source
Inside Higher Ed
Frequently asked · Us National Debt
What is the difference between debt held by the public and total public debt?
Debt held by the public measures what the government owes to outside investors, while total public debt outstanding also includes intra-governmental holdings, which is money one part of the government owes to another.
What are the primary drivers of the rising U.S. national debt?
The Congressional Budget Office identifies increased spending on Social Security and Medicare due to an aging population, alongside rising interest costs on existing debt, as the main drivers.
How does the current debt-to-GDP ratio compare to historical records?
The current ratio has surpassed 100%, moving toward the all-time record of 106% set in 1946 following World War II.