United States Treasury has warned that the US government will be unlikely to meet payment obligations by early June if the debt ceiling is not raised.
The date is earlier than the Treasury estimated in January, indicating that the United States financial situation is more precarious than previously thought.
In a letter to Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, published on Monday, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen asked Congress to increase the government's debt ceiling before this date or to suspend its implementation in order to prevent economic turmoil.
After reaching the borrowing cap of $31.4 trillion on January 19, Yellen informed Congress that the Treasury would use cash receipts and extraordinary cash management measures to continue making payments on debt, federal benefits, and other expenditures at least through June 5.
Previously, economists had predicted Washington's debt would increase to the set limit by the end of early August and the collection of less-than-expected tax revenues will speed the process.
Experts believe the US could default on its obligations if the debt ceiling is not raised by the summer, triggering an economic downturn that could result in a recession, create an unemployment crisis, and damage the country's reputation as a safe haven for investors.
The economic outlook is also clouded by a deepening rivalry between Biden and Republican lawmakers, who are demanding drastic spending cuts in exchange for more government borrowing power.
For the past two months, the White House has refused to talk to McCarthy and has demanded that the Republican-controlled Congress unconditionally approve the increase in the debt ceiling.
The president accused Republicans of holding the economy hostage to politically motivated demands and said he would discuss spending issues only in the context of the budget, not in relation to the debt ceiling....more below
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/05/02/702599/US-debt-default-will-cause-economy-crash
US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is preparing to leave the Trump administration after what a new report has described as months of tension with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, potentially triggering another change at the army’s top echelons.
According to the Friday report by The Wall Street Journal, Driscoll is expected to step down before the end of the year and could leave his post earlier. The newspaper cited people familiar with discussions over his departure.
The Journal reported that Driscoll and his family vacated the official residence assigned to the army secretary at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall this summer, a move that could indicate he was preparing to leave the position.
The reported departure would come at a time of continuing uncertainty at the top echelons of the army.
Hegseth abruptly removed Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George in April, while Trump has not yet nominated a permanent successo....more below
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The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) warns the enemies that any act of aggression against the Islamic Republic will not go unanswered.
In a statement on Thursday, the IRGC issued a “stern warning” to the enemies after US forces launched strikes against the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas.
Following the US military attack on a point on the outskirts of Bandar Abbas Airport with aerial projectiles, the IRGC carried out new strikes targeting the US air base from which the attack originated in the wee hours of Thursday, it added.
“This response is a serious warning to the enemy that they should know the act of aggression will not go unanswered,” the IRGC emphasized.
The elite military force warned of a “more decisive” response if the enemy repeated any act of aggression.
It also said the responsibility for the consequences of any IRGC response lies with the aggressor.
The statement comes after the IRGC Navy on Thursday forced an American tanker to turn back. The tanker ...
