Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) sounded the alarm Friday over the U.S. national debt surpassing 100% of gross domestic product, calling it a “ticking time bomb” and pressing his colleagues to pursue far deeper spending cuts. The debt-to-GDP ratio crossed that threshold for the first time since the end of World War II, according to data released Thursday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Speaking on Fox Business with Cheryl Casone, Roy argued that while Republicans have made some progress reining in spending, much more is needed. “Now, thankfully, we’ve taken some strides over the last couple of years to do something about it,” he said, pointing to the Big Beautiful Bill and efforts to hold discretionary spending flat. “But for the American people generally, we need to do much more.”
The national debt hit $39 trillion in March, just five months after crossing $38 trillion. Publicly held debt stood at $31.27 trillion as of March 31, pushing the ratio to 100.2% of GDP. The Congressional Budget Office has warned that without changes, that figure could climb to 108% by 2030 and 120% by 2036.
Roy called for returning power to states and individuals, warning that if the debt continues to balloon, “we’re going to destroy our country.” He criticized Washington’s tendency to operate “on autopilot,” echoing a broader Republican push to curb deficit spending as the new Trump administration takes shape.
GOP lawmakers entered 2025 vowing not to add to the deficit, but disagreements persist over whether extending the 2017 tax cuts would increase the debt. Some Republicans have called for offsetting spending cuts to fund Trump’s priorities. That tension flared recently over a proposed $400 million White House ballroom project, which Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) questioned using taxpayer money for, given President Trump said it was “already paid for with private funds.”
Meanwhile, the cost of U.S. military operations in Iran has become another flashpoint. The Pentagon’s acting CFO told the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday that the war has cost $25 billion so far. But Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), a Senate Armed Services Committee member, told CNN he’s heard estimates as high as $50 billion, vowing to investigate the discrepancy.
