IMF chief: US growth alone cannot fix $40 trillion debt

The United States cannot rely on economic growth alone to reduce its mounting public debt and must implement fiscal adjustments, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Wednesday. Speaking at IMF-World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok, Georgieva noted Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledges US deficits and debt, now above $40 trillion, are too high. She said growth helps but cannot deliver necessary adjustments fast enough. Georgieva's remarks came as the IMF assesses global fiscal sustainability, with US debt levels prompting concerns among international policymakers about long-term economic stability and the need for concrete measures.