Record-high interest payments on US public debt to overseas holders reached $292 billion in the third quarter of 2025, a figure that has more than doubled since 2020. This surge in interest payments reflects the US Treasury’s current financial burden, as it now pays six times more to international holders of US debt compared to the pre-2008 financial crisis era. This development coincides with foreign investors holding a record $9.1 trillion in US Treasuries, underscoring their preference for US assets as a secure investment amidst global economic uncertainty.
US Treasury pays record $292B in Q3 2025 interest to foreign debt holders
