Tornado Alley (PROG)

[JimLur]

ust 30 days into President Donald Trump’s first term, the national debt changed course and went down by almost $12 billion.

A quick search at www.treasurydirect.gov, the U.S. treasury’s official website, shows that on Jan. 20, 2017, the total outstanding public debt stood at $19,947,304,555,212.49.

By Feb. 21, the debt moved down to $19,935,316,186,835.78 – a reduction of almost $12 billion.

Not bad for his first month on the job.

While it’s likely that the reduction in debt service in the first days of the Trump administration is due to increased revenue and retiring debt, at a budget meeting in the Roosevelt Room at the White House earlier this week, the president made it clear he intends to make reducing the debt a top priority.

The U.S national debt represents the total amount of money the government borrows to fund its functions. It includes two parts, debt held by the public, usually in the form of Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and debt held by government accounts.

Trump explained the daunting task would be difficult, but not impossible, as the national debt nearly doubled during the last eight years to almost $20 trillion.

And the president has already implemented policies to save billions, from renegotiating deals with plane manufacturers to a freeze on federal hiring (not including the military).

“I want the American people to know that our budget will reflect their priorities. We’ll be directing all of our departments and agencies to protect every last American and every last tax dollar. No more wasted money,” Trump said.

The president will be presenting his blueprint for the federal budget sometime in March.

“Our moral duty to the taxpayer requires us to make our government leaner and more accountable. We must do a lot more with less … and look for every last dollar of savings,” he added.

In case you’ve got some cash weighing you down and are feeling extra patriotic, you might be surprised to learn that the public can help reduce the debt anytime by contributing online at Pay.gov or by sending a check to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service. Include “gift to reduce debt held by the public” in the memo section of the check. Thanks in advance!

Read more: http://www.everyjoe.com/2017/02/24/news/trump-decreases-national-debt-12-billion-one-month/#ixzz4ZhTCr7uy