Americans Can Now Use Venmo and PayPal to Help Pay Off National Debt

The U.S. Treasury Department has launched a new option for Americans to donate toward reducing the country’s massive $36.7 trillion national debt — through Venmo and PayPal.

This initiative, part of the long-running “Gifts to Reduce the Public Debt” program, has been around for decades. But now, it includes modern digital payment methods like Venmo and PayPal through the government’s Pay.gov website. People can also still donate using credit or debit cards and bank transfers.

A viral post on X (formerly Twitter) recently brought public attention to the program, showing screenshots of the new digital options. Treasury officials confirmed that the service is active and verified.

Since 1996, Americans have donated a total of $67.3 million — a small amount compared to the national debt, which grows by billions each day. In fact, Axios reports that the maximum Venmo donation of $999,999.99 would only cover about 18 seconds of debt.

While experts say the donations are mostly symbolic, the move is part of an effort to modernize public participation and raise awareness about national spending. The Treasury hopes that by using familiar platforms like Venmo and PayPal, more people — especially younger generations — will take part.

The Treasury noted that only fiat currency is accepted. Cryptocurrency donations are not currently supported.

Although financial risk here is minimal, the new feature has generated discussion. Some users in the online area mocked it as a great try but unrealistic, while others praised it as a creative, great opportunity for a citizen to participate.