Resolution Recognizing The Seriousness Of The National Debt And Its Threat To National Security

Policy Status

  • Type: Model Resolution
  • Status: Final
  • Date Introduced: July 17, 2025
  • Date Finalized: August 11, 2025

Issues

  • State Budgets
  • Tax Reform

    • Task Forces

  • Tax and Fiscal Policy
  • Federalism, Homeland Security and International Relations

    • Related Articles

    Tags

  • 2025 Annual Meeting

    • Summary

    The national debt represents one of the greatest public policy challenges in the United States. It continues to reach historic levels, as annual deficits grow and interest payment crowd out other priorities. The ability of the United States to continue spending at current levels relies on international debt markets, with a large share of national debt held abroad, including in China. Recognizing these concerns, this resolution acknowledges the debt as a threat to national security and urges the Congress to commit to establishing an effective regular order for budgeting.
    Draft

    Resolution Recognizing The Seriousness Of The National Debt And Its Threat To National Security

    WHEREAS, In March 2025, the outstanding public debt of the U.S. totaled more than $36 trillion, with public debt equaling 124 percent of gross domestic product and the debt owed per citizen rising to $107,000;

    WHEREAS, More than $8 trillion of the federal debt is owned by individuals not located in the U.S., including more than $800 billion owned by individuals in China;

    WHEREAS, In fiscal year 2024, the U.S. had a deficit of over $1 trillion after the U.S. Congress failed to pass a balanced budget and federal tax receipts totaled $5 trillion, short of the federal outlays totaling $6.75 trillion;

    WHEREAS, The Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees project that the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, and the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will all be depleted in 2033 and 2036.

    WHEREAS, Improvements in the business climate in populous countries and aging populations around the world will likely contribute to higher global interest rates, which would squeeze all U.S. policy priorities, including defense and foreign policy;

    WHEREAS, On September 22, 2011, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen warned, “the single, biggest threat to our national security is debt”;

    WHEREAS, On March 6, 2018, then Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats warned, “Our continued plunge into debt is unsustainable and represents a dire future threat to our economy and to our national security”;

    WHEREAS, The last federal budget surplus occurred in 2001 and the continued rise in the national debt is a major concern across the [State] and around the country: Therefore,

    Be it resolved by the Senate of the legislature of [State]:

    Section 1. That the State of [State] recognizes that the national debt is a threat to the national security of the United States and urges the United States Congress to commit to establishing an effective regular order for budgeting.

    Section 2. The Secretary of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to each member of [State]’s Congressional delegation.