In a political landscape often fractured by deep ideological chasms, a rare and striking consensus has emerged among American voters: the nation’s burgeoning national debt, now soaring towards an alarming $40 trillion, poses a critical threat to America’s economic future. A recent survey reveals an overwhelming bipartisan supermajority demanding immediate action from Washington, even as public confidence in lawmakers’ ability to tackle the crisis plummets.
A United Front Against Fiscal Peril
Commissioned by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, new data underscores a profound and widespread anxiety across the electorate. The survey highlights that 72% of Democrats and an even more striking 87% of Republicans agree that legislators must dedicate more time to addressing the national debt. This unity extends beyond party lines, with 69% of independents also categorizing the debt as a top-tier economic problem.
Michael A. Peterson, CEO of the foundation, articulated the urgency: “As our nation races towards $40 trillion in debt, this new survey of more than 1,000 registered voters shows widespread agreement across party lines that lawmakers should pursue solutions to stabilize the debt and put our country—and economy—on a stronger, more sustainable path.”
The call for fiscal responsibility is no longer a niche concern. An impressive 81% of voters want the President and Congress to allocate more time to the national debt, and 77% believe reducing it should be among the top three priorities for lawmakers. This includes 72% of Democrats, 69% of independents, and 87% of Republicans, showcasing a truly unified public mandate.
Washington’s Faltering Fiscal Confidence
Despite this clear and urgent mandate from the populace, public faith in Washington’s capacity to resolve the crisis is alarmingly low and deteriorating. The U.S. Fiscal Confidence Index, a barometer of public opinion on debt, registered a dismal score of 50 in January 2026 – a stark contrast to the neutral midpoint of 100.
Pessimism on the Rise
Underpinning this low score is a sharp turn towards pessimism regarding short-term progress. For the first time since September of the previous year, a majority of voters (52%) expressed little hope that leaders will make any significant headway on the debt in the near future. Furthermore, a substantial 57% of respondents believe lawmakers are currently on the “wrong track” in managing the nation’s finances. The outlook for the coming years remains grim, with 60% of voters anticipating the debt situation to worsen.
The Growing Intensity of Public Concern
The depth of voter sentiment is also escalating. A significant 77% of voters reported an increase in their concern regarding the national debt over the past few years, with nearly half (48%) stating their worry has “increased a lot.”
This intensifying concern highlights a profound disconnect between public expectation and government performance. The Fiscal Confidence Index’s “priority” component, which measures how high a priority addressing the debt should be, scored a mere 26. This low reading strongly suggests that Americans feel their elected leaders are failing to treat the long-term debt with the urgency the public so clearly demands.
The survey itself stands as a testament to bipartisan collaboration, conducted jointly by the Democratic firm Global Strategy Group and the Republican firm North Star Opinion Research. Polling 1,010 registered voters nationwide between January 20-21, 2026, it carries a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.
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