A new survey conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and released by National Taxpayers Union found that 89% of American believe that the U.S. is in an affordability crisis. Meanwhile, 88% of registered voters say the $37 trillion national debt will eventually have a real impact on them and their families.
When asked how best to reduce the debt, 54% of respondents recommended cutting government spending, 32% recommended growing the economy, and 13% called for raising taxes.
If Washington politicians continue to ignore the $37 trillion national debt, Pete Sepp, president of NTU of National Taxpayers Union (NTU), said that people will see lower standards of living, higher inflation, and America's standing in the world drop.
"We will make it harder to afford key programs that are coming to the end of their financial lives unless action is taken. Social Security for example faces a major crisis and a 20%-plus benefit reduction in 2032, just six years from now unless politicians act," says Sepp.
He comments that now is the time for action.
"We need to get our fiscal house in order now; otherwise, our economy, key programs, and the American people will suffer," states Sepp. "It's no longer some distant year and a future generation. It's the current generation that's going to face the music."
NTU is not the only organization who is sounding the alarm.
AFN reported previously in October 2025 that Ross Marchand, senior fellow at the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, said that the solution begins with Congress taking a hard look at entitlement spending and defense.
In addition to Social Security, Marchand told AFN that Medicare is a key contributor to debts and deficits. Meanwhile, "Medicaid will soon surpass that trillion-dollar mark." Additionally, Marchand said that the War Department is "right on the cusp of a trillion dollars" in annual expenditures.
