U.S. 2026 budget gap hits $1.97 trillion with month left to goThe federal budget deficit hit $1.97 trillion for the first 11 months of the fiscal year, one of the highest such figures on record and leaving the debt burden heading within a few years to levels unseen in U.S. history.Spokane Spokesman-Review24d agoWhole story →EconomyS 2026federal budget update