Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent referred to as on Congress Friday to lift the nation’s debt ceiling by mid-July to maintain the federal authorities from defaulting on its greater than $36 trillion debt.
In a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Bessent mentioned there’s “reasonable probability” that the federal government’s “cash and extraordinary measures will be exhausted in August while Congress is scheduled to be in recess.”
“Therefore, I respectfully urge Congress to increase or suspend the debt limit by mid-July, before its scheduled break, to protect the full faith and credit of the United States,” he mentioned.
Republicans are hopeful they’ll have the ability to increase the debt restrict on their very own this 12 months utilizing a course of generally known as funds reconciliation. The intention is to lift the debt ceiling utilizing the identical automobile being put collectively to advance extensive swaths of President Trump’s agenda with solely GOP votes.
This may permit Republicans to keep away from Democratic calls for for concessions in trade for his or her votes, however it could additionally set a tough mid-summer deadline for the large invoice that has spawned quite a few divisions on the best.
The debt restrict was final suspended by Congress as a part of a bipartisan invoice struck between former President Biden and GOP management in 2023, staving off the specter of nationwide default via early 2025.
Nonetheless, then-Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen mentioned in January that the federal government must implement “extraordinary measures” after the federal government was anticipated to achieve the brand new restrict later that month.
The debt restrict caps how a lot cash the Treasury Division can owe to pay the nation’s payments.
Trump urged the earlier Congress to lift the debt restrict earlier than he assumed workplace, as Republicans argued Democrats might use the leverage level to demand main concessions.
Home GOP leaders additionally used the debt restrict throughout the Biden administration to get Democrats to return to the negotiating desk, however solely after months of an intense recreation of rooster between either side. The excessive stakes battle finally resulted in a debt restrict suspension and a bipartisan deal for brand spanking new limits on spending, however not with out one other downgrade of the nation’s credit standing.
In his notice to lawmakers on Friday, Bessent mentioned “prior episodes have shown that waiting until the last minute to suspend or increase the debt limit can have serious adverse consequences for financial markets, businesses, and the federal government, harm business and consumer confidence, and raise short-term borrowing costs for taxpayers.”
“These risks were underscored by the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee in a report issued on April 29, 2025, raising concerns including increased volatility and costs, negative impacts on U.S. financial strength, and a heightened risk of a default,” he mentioned.
Up to date at 5:14 p.m. EDT
