III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 600 

Recognizing the national debt as a threat to national security. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 20, 2024 

Mr. BRAUN (for himself, Mr. SCOTT of Florida, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Ms. LUMMIS, Mr. CRAMER, and Mr. BUDD) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the national debt as a threat to national 

security. 

Whereas, in January 2024, the total public debt outstanding 

was more than $34,000,000,000,000, resulting in a total 

interest expense of more than $659,000,000,000 on debt 

held by the public for fiscal year 2023; 

Whereas, in January 2024, the total public debt as a percentage of gross domestic product was more than 123 percent; 

Whereas, in January 2024, the debt owed per citizen was 

$102,147 and $265,582 per taxpayer; 

Whereas the last Federal budget surplus occurred in 2001; 

Whereas, in fiscal year 2023, Federal tax receipts totaled 

$4,400,000,000,000, but Federal outlays totaled 


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•SRES 600 ATS 

$6,100,000,000,000, leaving the Federal Government 

with a 1-year deficit of $1,700,000,000,000; 

Whereas the Senate failed to pass a balanced budget for fiscal year 2024 and failed to restore regular order to the 

legislative process by not allowing Senators to offer and 

debate amendments; 

Whereas the Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees project that the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust 

Fund will be depleted in 2031; 

Whereas the Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees project that the combined Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability 

Insurance Trust Fund will be depleted in 2034; 

Whereas improvements in the business climate in populous 

countries, and aging populations around the world, will 

likely contribute to higher global interest rates; 

Whereas more than $8,056,100,000,000 of Federal debt is 

owned by individuals not located in the United States, including more than $1,050,000,000,000 of which is owned 

by individuals in China; 

Whereas China and the European Union are developing alternative payment systems to weaken the dominant position 

of the United States dollar as a reserve currency; 

Whereas rapidly increasing interest rates would squeeze all 

policy priorities of the United States, including defense 

policy and foreign policy priorities; 

Whereas Federal spending on interest to service the national 

debt is now projected to exceed Federal spending on national defense in 2024 according to the Congressional 

Budget Office’s Budget and Economic Outlook: 2024 to 

2034 report; 


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•SRES 600 ATS 

Whereas, on April 12, 2018, former Secretary of Defense 

James Mattis warned that ‘‘any Nation that can’t keep 

its fiscal house in order eventually cannot maintain its 

military power’’; 

Whereas, on March 6, 2018, Director of National Intelligence 

Dan Coats warned: ‘‘Our continued plunge into debt is 

unsustainable and represents a dire future threat to our 

economy and to our national security’’; 

Whereas, on November 15, 2017, former Secretaries of Defense Leon Panetta, Ash Carter, and Chuck Hagel 

warned: ‘‘Increase in the debt will, in the absence of a 

comprehensive budget that addresses both entitlements 

and revenues, force even deeper reductions in our national security capabilities’’; and 

Whereas, on September 22, 2011, former Chairman of the 

Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen warned: ‘‘I believe 

the single, biggest threat to our national security is 

debt’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes that the national debt is a threat 

3 to the national security of the United States; 

4 (2) realizes that deficits are unsustainable, irre5 sponsible, and dangerous; 

6 (3) commits to restoring regular order in the 

7 appropriations process; and 

8 (4) commits to preventing the looming fiscal 

9 crisis faced by the United States. 

Æ 


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