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In a political landscape often defined by deep partisan divides, a remarkable consensus has emerged among American voters about the nation’s financial health. As the United States grapples with a growing financial burden, a newly released survey shows that the national debt is viewed as a critical threat by a supermajority of voters. According to new data released Thursday, 72% of Democrats and 87% of Republicans now agree that lawmakers should spend more time focused on the debt.
The survey, commissioned by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, highlights growing anxiety among voters as the nation’s fiscal obligations mount. The poll reveals that voters across the ideological spectrum are demanding action from Washington, with foundation CEO Michael G. Peterson saying “as our nation races toward $40 trillion in debt,” this new survey of more than 1,000 registered voters shows broad agreement across party lines that lawmakers must find solutions to stabilize the debt and put our nation on a more sustainable path.
Bipartisan demand for action
The poll highlights that fiscal responsibility is no longer a niche concern. More than that the high agreement among major party voters, 69% of independents also classify the debt as a top-tier economic problem.
This unity extends to how voters believe elected officials should spend their time. The survey found that 81% of voters want the president and Congress to spend more time addressing the national debt. In addition, 77% of voters agree that debt reduction should be one of the top three priorities of lawmakers (72% of Democrats, 69% of independents, and 87% of Republicans).
“The national debt is growing faster than ever, and voters understand that this is a big problem for America’s economic future,” said Michael Peterson. “This new survey shows broad agreement across party lines that lawmakers need to find solutions to stabilize the debt and put our nation—and economy—on a stronger, more sustainable path.”
Pessimism deepened on Capitol Hill
Despite the clear mandate from voters, public confidence in Washington’s ability to resolve the crisis is deteriorating. The survey’s “US Fiscal Confidence Index”—a measure of public opinion about debt modeled after the Consumer Confidence Index—registered a low score of 50 in January 2026, where a score of 100 represents a neutral midpoint.
Underlying this low score is a sharp pessimistic turn about short-term growth. For the first time since September last year, the majority of voters (52%) expressed pessimism leaders will make any progress on the debt in the near future. In addition, 57% of respondents believe that lawmakers are currently on the “wrong path” when it comes to managing the country’s finances. When asked about the future path of the issue, the outlook remains gloomy, with 60% of voters expecting the debt situation to worsen in the next few years.
The intensity of anxiety increased
Voter sentiment also increased. When asked about their views over the past few years, 77% of voters reported their level of concern about the national debt has increased, with almost half (48%) saying it has “increased a lot”.
The poll indicated a significant gap between voters’ expectations and the government’s performance. The part of the Fiscal Confidence Index that measures “priority”—how high a priority is solving the debt for leaders—scored 26. This low reading shows a deep disconnect, suggesting Americans feel that elected leaders have failed to treat the long-term debt with the urgency the public demands.
The survey showed a remarkable bipartisan collaboration in polling as well. It was conducted jointly by the Democratic firm Global Strategy Group and the Republican firm North Star Opinion Research. The poll surveyed 1,010 registered voters nationwide between January and January 21, 2026, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.
For this story,luckJournalists use generative AI as a research tool. An editor verifies the accuracy of the information before publication.
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
