Is the U.S. government raising public donations to reduce the $38 trillion national debt? Viral post sparks chaos

Although this claim is based on a real federal program, which has existed since 1843 according to the official Treasury Department page, it is neither new nor financially significant.

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The posts suggest the government is asking ordinary Americans for donations to ease the U.S. government’s $38 trillion debt burden.

However, official records confirm that the program exists under federal law. according to U.S. Treasury DepartmentAmericans were allowed to make voluntary contributions to reduce the public debt 31 University of Southern California §3113 for decades.

In 1843, this account was created to receive gifts, including bequests, from those who wanted to express support for the peace movement. USA. Funds deposited into this account may be used by the federal government for general purposes, including budgetary needs.

These donations are then administered by the Treasury Department’s Bureau of Fiscal Services through Pay.gov, where users can submit donations electronically through your bank account (ACH), PayPal, debit or credit card.

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The U.S. government’s audacity to collect “gifts” through PayPal and Venmo in an attempt to lower the nation’s soaring $36.7 trillion debt angered many Americans at the time.

Likewise, a series of viral posts screenshotting Pay.gov pages drew mixed reactions. Spencer Hakimian, a user on X, posted the same screenshot and wrote: “Pedophiles asking for donations.”

However, this is not a new development, donation pages have been around for a long time.