Paying down the national debt - with your credit card

Patriotic citizens have long been able to donate money to help
pay down America's debt. Now they can use their credit cards.

Got a few extra bucks for Uncle Sam? Since 1961, the U.S. government has accepted donations in cash or check from private citizens who wish to help pay down the national debt, currently at $13 trillion.

Now the U.S. Treasury has made it easier to donate—via credit card. In January, the department's Bureau of the Public Debt began to accept payments via Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover at https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454.

When asked whether encouraging Americans to use credit—taking on personal debt to pay national debt—sent the wrong message, a Treasury spokesperson tells NEWSWEEK, "We make it as easy as possible to donate." She adds, "There are many people who pay their credit cards off every month," but had no further comment.

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