The U.S. federal budget deficit reached 2.0 trillion U.S. dollars in fiscal year 2026, which ended Sept 30, up 217 billion dollars, or 12 percent, from the previous fiscal year, showed data released by the U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on Monday.
According to CBO's report, revenues and outlays went up by 169 billion dollars and 386 billion U.S. dollars, or 3 percent and 6 percent, respectively, from fiscal year 2025.
It said that the federal deficit in FY2026 was equivalent to 6.2 percent of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP), representing a growth from 5.8 percent of GDP for the last fiscal year.
Federal debt held by the public reached 100 percent of GDP in fiscal year 2026, marking the highest percentage since 1946 and an increase from 99.0 percent at the end of FY2025, it noted.
US federal budget deficit up 12 pct in FY2026
A Chinese envoy on Monday called for preserving basic humanitarian protections, easing tensions and seizing a window for peace talks as the UN Security Council voiced concern over rising civilian casualties and worsening winter humanitarian risks in Ukraine.
Addressing the UN Security Council, Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said the Ukraine crisis was reaching a critical juncture for a negotiated settlement, as international calls for peace and talks grew stronger. Recent exchanges among key stakeholders had sent positive signals, he said, and China supported efforts toward peace, urging all parties to work with one another, sustain the positive momentum and advance an early political settlement.
Sun said parties to the conflict had recently expressed views on a political resolution, while the international community had made extensive diplomatic efforts to encourage peace and negotiations. Russia, Ukraine and the United States are set to hold another round of trilateral talks. The parties should demonstrate political will, maintain contact and communication, gradually build consensus and work together toward a comprehensive, lasting and binding peace agreement, he said.
"Conflict and war have no winners. All parties should learn lessons from this crisis, uphold the principle of indivisible security, take each other's legitimate security concerns seriously and address them properly, and pay particular attention to the root causes of the conflict. They should build a balanced, effective and sustainable regional security architecture," said Sun.
Sun said China's position on Ukraine was consistent and that China had always advocated peace talks and a political settlement. China has maintained close communication with Russia, Ukraine and other relevant parties and actively pursued shuttle diplomacy, working persistently to create conditions for talks and build consensus for peace.
China stands ready to continue working with the international community toward an early ceasefire, an end to hostilities, and lasting peace and stability in the region, he said.
China calls for peace talks to end Ukraine crisis
