Based on data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the national debt reached 100.2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at the end of the first quarter this year.
The U.S. last saw such high debt levels in 1946. Put another way, in a recent story by Fortune's business editor, Nick Lichtenberg, interest payments on the national debt take up 19% of federal revenue.
These interest payments eclipse spending on Medicaid, national defense and non-defense discretionary programs combined.