WASHINGTON, D.C. — In mid-February 2026, social media users have expressed shock—and in some cases, outrage—at a “Donations to the U.S.” page on Pay.gov. The viral screenshots suggest the government is desperately asking for digital handouts via Venmo and PayPal to chip away at a national debt that recently crossed the $38.6 trillion milestone.
While the donation page is real, the context being shared online is largely misleading. Here is the breakdown of what is actually happening.
1. A Program Older Than the Telephone
The ability for citizens to give “gifts” to the government is not a modern panic response to a ballooning deficit.
- Origin: The account was established in 1843 to receive bequests from patriotic citizens who wanted to support the fledgling nation.
- The Law: Under 31 U.S.C. § 3113, the Secretary of the Treasury is legally authorized to accept voluntary contributions for the sole purpose of reducing the public debt.
- Frequency: The Treasury has been reporting these “Gift Contributions” monthly for decades.
2. The Venmo & PayPal Confusion
The recent surge in viral posts is likely tied to the U.S. Treasury’s modernization of its payment systems over the last year.
- Digital Wallets: To reduce processing costs and increase convenience, the Bureau of the Fiscal Service added Venmo and PayPal as options on Pay.gov in late 2024 and 2025.
- Optics: While these modern buttons make the request look like a “crowdfund,” they are simply updates to a system that previously only accepted checks and bank transfers.
3. The Math: A Drop in a 38-Trillion-Gallon Ocean
To understand why this program isn’t a “fix” for the debt, look at the numbers from the 2025-2026 fiscal data:
| Metric | Amount (Approx.) |
| Total National Debt (Feb 2026) | $38,647,755,000,000 |
| Daily Debt Increase | ~$8 Billion |
| Avg. Monthly Donations (2025) | ~$80,000 |
| Annual Donations (Total) | ~$1 Million |
The Reality Check: Total annual donations to the public debt account for less than 1/1000th of one percent of the interest the U.S. pays on its debt every single day.
4. National Debt Status (Feb 2026)
The viral claim is gaining traction because the underlying financial anxiety is real. As of February 13, 2026, the U.S. national debt is roughly $38.64 trillion.
- Deficit Growth: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates a $1.9 trillion deficit for 2026.
- Interest Costs: For the first time, interest payments on the debt have surpassed the annual defense budget, totaling over $1 trillion annually.