WASHINGTON — The U.S. is on track to run out of money to pay its bills as early as August without congressional action, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Friday. He is calling on Congress to either raise or suspend the debt ceiling by mid-July.

WASHINGTON – Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged congressional leadership to raise the debt ceiling by mid-July, in a letter sent May 9 and viewed by USA TODAY. Otherwise, the federal government will hit the current debt ceiling sometime in August, Bessent wrote.