Statute 54 Stat. 526 55 Stat. 7 56 Stat. 189 57 Stat. 63 58 Stat. 272 59 Stat. 47 60 Stat. 316 68 Stat. 895 69 Stat. 241 70 Stat. 519 72 Stat. 27 72 Stat. 1758 73 Stat. 156 74 Stat. 290 75 Stat. 148 76 Stat. 23 76 Stat. 124 Date June 25, 1940 February 19, 1941 March 28, 1942 April 11, 1943 June 9, 1944 April 3, 1945 June 26, 1946 August 28, 1954 June 30, 1955 July 9, 1956 February 26, 1958 September 2, 1958 June 30, 1959 June 30, 1960 June 30, 1961 March 13, 1962 July 1, 1962 77 Stat. 90 May 29, 1963 77 Stat. 131 77 Stat. 342 August 27, 1963 November 26, 1963 78 Stat. 225 79 Stat. 172 80 Stat. 221 81 Stat. 4 81 Stat. 99 June 29, 1964 June 24, 1965 June 24, 1966 March 2, 1967 June 30, 1967 83 Stat. 7 84 Stat. 368 85 Stat. 5 86 Stat. 63 86 Stat. 406 86 Stat. 1324 86 Stat. 1324 87 Stat. 691 88 Stat. 285 89 Stat. 5 89 Stat. 246 89 Stat. 693 90 Stat. 217 90 Stat. 793 April 7, 1969 June 30, 1970 March 17, 1971 March 15, 1972 July 1, 1972 October 27, 1972 July 1, 1973 December 3, 1973 June 30, 1974 February 19, 1975 June 30, 1975 November 14, 1975 March 15, 1976 June 30, 1976 91 Stat. 1090 92 Stat. 185 92 Stat. 419 93 Stat. 8 93 Stat. 589 94 Stat. 421 94 Stat. 439 94 Stat. 598 94 Stat. 3261 95 Stat. 4 95 Stat. 955 95 Stat. 956 96 Stat. 130 96 Stat. 1156 97 Stat. 196 97 Stat. 1012 98 Stat. 217 98 Stat. 313 98 Stat. 2206 99 Stat. 814 99 Stat. 1037 100 Stat. 818 100 Stat. 1968 101 Stat. 308 101 Stat. 542 101 Stat. 550 101 Stat. 754 103 Stat. 182 103 Stat. 830 104 Stat. 403 104 Stat. 878 104 Stat. 897 104 Stat. 1033 104 Stat. 1078 104 Stat. 1087 104 Stat. 1388-560 107 Stat. 42 107 Stat. 565 110 Stat. 55 October 4, 1977 March 27, 1978 August 3, 1978 April 2, 1979 September 29, 1979 May 30, 1980 June 6, 1980 June 28, 1980 December 19, 1980 February 7, 1981 September 30, 1981 September 30, 1981 June 28, 1982 September 30, 1982 May 26, 1983 November 21, 1983 May 25, 1984 July 6, 1984 October 13, 1984 November 14, 1985 December 12, 1985 August 21, 1986 October 21, 1986 May 15, 1987 July 30, 1987 August 10, 1987 September 29, 1987 August 7, 1989 November 8, 1989 August 9, 1990 October 2, 1990 October 9, 1990 October 19, 1990 October 25, 1990 October 28, 1990 November 5, 1990 April 6, 1993 August 10, 1993 February 8, 1996 110 Stat. 825 110 Stat. 875 111 Stat. 648 116 Stat. 734 117 Stat. 710 118 Stat. 2337 120 Stat. 289 121 Stat. 988 122 Stat. 2908 122 Stat. 3790 123 Stat. 366 123 Stat.3483 124 Stat.8 March 12, 1996 March 29, 1996 August 5, 1997 June 28, 2002 May 27, 2003 November 19, 2004 March 20, 2006 September 29, 2007 July 30, 2008 October 3, 2008 February 17, 2009 December 28, 2009 February 12, 2010 Table 7.3--STATUTORY LIMITS ON FEDERAL DEBT: 1940-CURRENT (Dollar amounts in billions) Description Amended sec. 21, adding new authority for issuance of $4 billion National Defense Series obligations outstanding Amended sec. 21, eliminating authority for $4 billion of National Defense Series obligations and increasing limitation to Amended sec. 21, increasing limitation to Amended sec. 21, increasing limitation to Amended sec. 21, increasing limitation to Amended sec. 21, including obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States and increasing limitation to Amended sec. 21, defining face amount of savings bonds to be current redemption value and decreasing limitation to Increasing sec. 21 limitation by $6 billion during period beginning August 28, 1954, and ending June 30, 1955 Amended act of August 28, 1954, extending increase in limitation until June 30, 1956 Increased sec. 21 limitation by $3 billion during period beginning July 1, 1956, and ending June 30, 1957 Temporary increase terminated July 1, 1957, and limitation reverted to Increased sec. 21 limitation by $5 billion during period beginning February 26, 1958, and ending June 30, 1959 Amended sec. 21, increasing limitation to $283 billion, which with temporary increase of February 26, 1958 made limitation Amended sec. 21, increasing limitation to $285 billion and increased sec. 21 limitation by $10 billion during period beginning July 1, 1959, and ending June 30, 1960 Increased sec. 21 limitation by $8 billion during period beginning July 1, 1960, and ending June 30, 1961 Increased sec. 21 limitation by $13 billion during period beginning July 1, 1961, and ending June 30, 1962 Increased sec. 21 limitation by $2 billion (in addition to temporary increase of $13 billion in act of June 30, 1961) during period beginning March 13, 1962, and ending June 30, 1962 Increased sec. 21 limitation during the periods: (1) beginning July 1, 1962, and ending March 31, 1963, to (2) beginning April 1, 1963, and ending June 24, 1963, to (3) beginning June 25, 1963, and ending June 30, 1963, to Increased sec. 21 limitation during the periods: (1) beginning May 29, 1963, and ending June 30, 1963, to (2) beginning July 1, 1963, and ending August 31, 1963, to Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning September 1, 1963, and ending November 30, 1963, to Increased sec. 21 limitation during the periods: (1) beginning December 1, 1963, and ending June 29, 1964, to (2) ending June 30, 1964, to Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning June 29, 1964, and ending June 30, 1965, to Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning July 1, 1965, and ending June 30, 1966, to Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning July 1, 1966, and ending June 30, 1967, to Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning March 2, 1967, and ending June 30, 1967, to Sec. 21 amended to increase limitation on aggregate outstanding at any time to Sec. 21 amended also to increase the limitation temporarily, beginning July 1, 1968, and each July 1 thereafter for the period beginning July 1 and ending June 29 of each succeeding calendar year by $7 billion, providing an operating limitation of Amended sec. 21, increasing limitation to $365 billion, and increased sec. 21 limitation by $12 billion during period beginning April 7, 1969, and ending June 30, 1970 Amended sec. 21, increasing limitation to $380 billion, and increased sec. 21 limitation by $15 billion during period beginning July 1, 1970, and ending June 30, 1971 Amended sec. 21, increasing limitation to $400 billion, and increased sec. 21 limitation by $30 billion during period beginning March 17, 1971, and ending June 30, 1972 Amended sec. 21, to further increase the limitation temporarily by $20 billion during period beginning March 15, 1972, and ending June 30, 1972 Amended act of March 15, 1972, striking out June 30, 1972, and inserting in lieu thereof October 31, 1972 Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning November 1, 1972, and ending June 30, 1973 Amended act of October 27, 1972, striking out June 30, 1973, and inserting in lieu thereof November 30, 1973 Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning December 3, 1973, and ending June 30, 1974 Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning June 30, 1974, and ending March 31, 1975 Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning February 19, 1975, and ending June 30, 1975 Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning June 30, 1975, and ending November 15, 1975 Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning November 14, 1975, and ending March 15, 1976 Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning March 15, 1976, and ending June 30, 1976 Increased sec. 21 limitation during the periods: (1) beginning July 1, 1976, and ending September 30, 1976, to (2) beginning October 1, 1976, and ending March 31, 1977, to (3) beginning April 1, 1977, and ending September 30, 1977, to Temporary increase terminated October 1, 1977, and limitation reverted to Increased sec. 21 limitation by $352 billion during the period beginning October 4, 1977, and ending March 31, 1978 Amended act of October 4, 1977, striking out March 31, 1978, and inserting in lieu thereof July 31, 1978 Temporary increase terminated August 1, 1978, and limitation reverted to Increased sec. 21 limitation by $398 billion during the period beginning August 3, 1978, and ending March 31, 1979 Temporary increase terminated April 1, 1979, and limitation reverted to Increased sec. 21 limitation by $430 billion during the period beginning April 2, 1979, and ending September 30, 1979 Increased sec. 21 limitation by $479 billion during the period beginning September 29, 1979, and ending May 31, 1980 Amended act of September 29, 1979, striking out May 31, 1980, and inserting in lieu thereof June 5, 1980 Amended act of September 29, 1979, striking out June 5, 1980, and inserting in lieu thereof June 30, 1980 Increased sec. 21 limitation by $525 billion during the period beginning June 28, 1980, and ending February 28, 1981 Increased the total debt limit (composed of $400.0 billion of permanent ceiling, $535.1 billion of temporary ceiling) to Increased the temporary portion of the debt limit to $585.0 billion through September 30, 1980, raising the total debt ceiling to Increased the temporary portion of the debt limit to $599.8 billion for one day -- September 30, 1981 Increased the temporary portion of the debt limit to $679.8 billion through September 30, 1982 Increased the temporary portion of the debt limit to $743.1 billion through September 30, 1982 Increased the temporary portion of the debt limit to $890.2 billion through September 30, 1983 Eliminated the distinction between permanent and temporary limit with the enactment of a single permanent limit. Raised the debt limit to Increased the debt limit to Increased the debt limit to Increased the debt limit to Increased the debt limit to Increased the debt limit temporarily through December 6, 1985, to Increased the debt limit to Increased the debt limit to Increased the debt limit temporarily through May 15, 1987, to Increased the debt limit temporarily through July 17, 1987, to Increased the debt limit temporarily through August 6, 1987, to Increased the debt limit temporarily through September 23, 1987, to Increased the debt limit to Increased the debt limit temporarily through October 31, 1989, to Increased the debt limit to Increased the debt limit temporarily through October 2, 1990, to Increased the debt limit temporarily through October 6, 1990, to Increased the debt limit temporarily through October 19, 1990, to Increased the debt limit temporarily through October 24, 1990, to Increased the debt limit temporarily through October 27, 1990, to Increased the debt limit temporarily through November 5, 1990, to Increased the debt limit to Increased the debt limit temporarily through September 30, 1993, to Increased the debt limit to Temporarily exempted from limit obligations in an amount equal to the monthly insurance benefits payable under Title II of the Social Security Act in March 1996, the exemption to expire on the earlier of an increase in the limit or March 15, 1996. Temporarily exempted from limit (a) obligations in an amount equal to the monthly insurance benefits payable under Title II of the Social Security Act in March 1996 and (b) certain obligations issued to trust funds and other Federal Government accounts, both exemptions to expire on the earlier of an increase in the limit or March 30, 1996. Increased the debt limit to Increased the debt limit to Increased the debt limit to Increased the debt limit to Increased the debt limit to Increased the debt limit to Increased the debt limit to Increased the debt limit to Increased the debt limit to Increased the debt limit to Increased the debt limit to Increased the debt limit to Limit 49.0 65.0 125.0 210.0 260.0 300.0 275.0 281.0 281.0 278.0 275.0 280.0 288.0 295.0 293.0 298.0 300.0 308.0 305.0 300.0 307.0 309.0 309.0 315.0 309.0 324.0 328.0 330.0 336.0 358.0 365.0 377.0 395.0 430.0 450.0 450.0 465.0 465.0 475.7 495.0 577.0 577.0 595.0 627.0 636.0 682.0 700.0 400.0 752.0 752.0 400.0 798.0 400.0 830.0 879.0 879.0 879.0 925.0 935.1 985.0 999.8 1,079.8 1,143.1 1,290.2 1,389.0 1,490.0 1,520.0 1,573.0 1,823.8 1,903.8 2,078.7 2,111.0 2,300.0 2,320.0 2,320.0 2,352.0 2,800.0 2,870.0 3,122.7 3,195.0 3,195.0 3,195.0 3,195.0 3,195.0 3,230.0 4,145.0 4,370.0 4,900.0 5,500.0 5,950.0 6,400.0 7,384.0 8,184.0 8,965.0 9,815.0 10,615.0 11,315.0 12,104.0 12,394.0 14,294.0