US Tariff Take Helps Trim 2025 Deficit to $1.78 Trillion (3)

The US budget deficit declined slightly for the 2025 fiscal year as tariff revenue hit a record high, though the pace of borrowing remains historically elevated at a time of economic expansion and financial stability.

The deficit for the fiscal year was $1.78 trillion, down from $1.82 trillion in 2024, a drop of 2%, according to figures released by the Treasury Department Thursday. The gap largely echoed a Congressional Budget Office estimate published last week.

President Donald Trump’s dramatic tariff hikes helped spur a net $195 billion in tariff revenue for the fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30. Treasury Secretary ...