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Most Americans are probably aware that the federal government operates at a steep deficit that grows larger with every second that passes thanks to the national debt. There’s not really anything one individual can do to put a dent in a number that currently exceeds $36 trillion, but you can now use Venmo to try to stop the bleeding if you’re feeling generous.
The United States was already pretty heavily in debt when America came into existence in the wake of the Revolutionary War, as that conflict led to the newly-founded country racking up an unpaid tab of around $75 million toward the start of the 1790s.
That number gradually decreased in the ensuing decades before it was paid off in its entirety for the first and only time during Andrew Jackson’s presidency in 1835. It remained relatively low until the start of the Civil War, which was the first of a number of notable conflicts that have contributed to significant spikes that have also stemmed from various economic crises.
As of this writing, the national debt is currently sitting at approximately $36.6 trillion, and every single person in the United States would have to fork over close to $108,000 if the government wanted to pay it off in one fell swoop.
That’s obviously not going to happen, but the government has given particularly benevolent citizens the chance to contribute to the cause and has now made it easier than ever to do so with an option normally reserved for paying back someone who offered to used their credit card to pay for a dinner.
Americans can now use Venmo to help pay off the national debt
As someone who took a grand total of two introductory economics classes in college, I’m very aware that there are many other people who are infinitely more qualified to dissect the benefits and liabilities of sitting on tens of trillions of dollars in debt.
However, most experts would tell you there’s nothing inherently good or bad about that particular approach; properly managed debt can be leveraged into investments that pay off in the long run, although there could be some major ramifications if the parties the country owes that money to are ever compelled to collect a significant portion.
The Bureau of the Fiscal Service, which is overseen by the Department of the Treasury, operates a program that allows Americans to directly donate in an effort to reduce the national debt. You might not think it’s a particularly popular one, but it did manage to generate over $2.7 million in 2024 and has raked in close to $435,000 since the start of 2025.
As Jack Corbett of NPR pointed out earlier this week, the bureau has also caught up with the times based on the payment options it currently offers, as Venmo is on the list of acceptable methods in addition to PayPal, debit or credit card, and direct deposit via bank account.
you can venmo the United States to help pay off the national debt pic.twitter.com/UBfSvbAIx0
— Jack Corbett (@jackcorrbit) July 23, 2025
What a world.