As the United States heads into 2026, voters are increasingly uneasy about the country’s finances. After a chaotic 2025 that included major budget fights, heavy spending, and repeated disruption in Washington, a new national survey shows an overwhelming share of the public wants lawmakers to put the country’s $38 trillion national debt at the top of the agenda.
A January 2026 index sponsored by the nonpartisan Peter G. Peterson Foundation, released Wednesday, found that 82% of voters believe lawmakers should spend more time addressing the national debt. The group’s Fiscal Confidence Index registered 51 (where 100 is neutral), down six points from January 2025—signaling a worsening mood and growing frustration with the country’s long-term fiscal outlook.
The foundation said 2025 brought unusual fiscal turmoil, including what it described as the “longest government shutdown in history,” the “most expensive reconciliation bill,” and the “highest interest costs ever.” Together, those developments appear to have pushed debt concerns to the forefront as the 2026 election cycle ramps up.
“Understandably concerned”
Michael A. Peterson, CEO of the Peterson Foundation, said the public’s anxiety is tied to the real-world costs voters feel in their daily lives.
“As the new year begins, voters are understandably concerned about America’s fiscal direction,” Peterson said. “The rapidly rising debt puts upward pressure on inflation and interest rates, driving up the cost of living and harming economic growth.”
He added that the issue is likely to shape campaign debates heading into the midterms. “Looking ahead to this election year, it will be critically important for candidates to engage voters on solutions that will help stabilize the debt and build a stronger, more prosperous 2026 and beyond,” he said.
Rare bipartisan agreement
Even in a sharply divided political environment, debt reduction appears to be one of the few areas where voters broadly align. The survey found 79% of voters say reducing the national debt should be a “top-three priority” for both the president and Congress.
Support remains strong across party lines:
- 89% of Republicans say debt reduction should be a top priority
- 75% of Democrats agree
- 70% of independents agree
What the Fiscal Confidence Index measures
The Fiscal Confidence Index is built from three equally weighted components: Concern, Priority, and Expectations. In the December 2025 results, each category captured a different part of the public’s outlook:
- Concern (49): Reflects high worry about the debt’s trajectory
- Priority (22): Suggests voters think elected officials are not giving the issue enough attention and want it treated as a major long-term priority
- Expectations (80): Shows continued pessimism about whether the situation will improve in the coming years
The survey was commissioned by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation and conducted by the Democratic firm Global Strategy Group and the Republican firm North Star Opinion Research. It polled 1,004 registered voters nationwide from December 15–17, 2025, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.
