Impact of National Debt on U.S. National Security.

摘要

The United States faces a growing national debt that will adversely impact the economy and weaken national security. The national debt is currently $14.2 trillion; the Congressional Budget Office projects the debt to reach $17.4 trillion by 2015, and $21.4 trillion by 2020. The national debt can impact national security through the inevitable budget cuts that will be necessary to curb the growth in debt, as well as through more subtle effects, such as decreased soft power capabilities, reduced capacity to respond to national security concerns, a decrease in U.S. allies' confidence in the ability of the United States to protect common interests, and a decrease in U.S. influence in international affairs. To date, the impact of the debt on national security has been minimal, but that will change as payments on the debt increase and the measures required to reverse its upward trend are implemented.