In a move that feels more like satire than federal policy, the U.S. Treasury Department has officially opened the door for citizens to chip away at the nation’s staggering $40.7 trillion debt — one Venmo payment at a time.
The initiative, part of an effort to “modernize” government payment systems and appeal to younger, app-happy citizens, now allows anyone with a PayPal or Venmo account to voluntarily donate money to help the federal government pay its bills — the same federal government that spends over $10 billion a day on Ukraine, Israel and other frivolous expenses.
Through the Bureau of the Fiscal Service’s long-running (and little-known) “Gifts to Reduce the Public Debt” program, patriotic citizens can now skip brunch and instead send Uncle Sam a few bucks from their phones. Just head over to Pay.gov, fill out a form, and Venmo your country — presumably with a note that says “For national collapse.”
In case you’re wondering, this isn’t a joke or a stealth fundraiser by The Babylon Bee. It’s a real, official channel where the U.S. government is asking for donations in the form of money, government securities, or other “intangible personal property.”
The Treasury says this effort is aimed at engaging “younger, tech-savvy Americans” — a generation already crushed under housing costs and inflation, and now being asked to help patch up a $40 trillion hole they didn’t dig.
In fiscal year 2022, Americans generously donated $180,310.32 to the national debt. For perspective, that amount would pay off about 0.0000000044% of the total. So… almost there.
Venmo’s Help Center assures users their accounts can be used for receiving everything from tax refunds to Social Security checks — and now, apparently, for giving money back to the very government that issued them.
Catalis Payments executive Rabin Sawh called the move a smart step toward modernization, saying: “Offering Venmo as a payment option indicates that governments understand and respect these preferences.” Translation: You may not get healthcare, but at least you can help fund the deficit in real-time from your phone.
So if you’ve got a few bucks lying around after rent, gas, groceries, and taxes — and nothing better to do with them — the government is standing by. Just remember to tag your donation:
“@US-Treasury — for that $40 trillion IOU.”