美國債務上限期限將近，財長耶倫拉警報

隨著美國提高債務上限的最後期限臨近，財政部長珍妮特·耶倫敲響了警鐘，敦促國會迅速採取行動

The United States is facing a critical moment as it approaches the deadline to raise the debt ceiling. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has sounded the alarm, urging Congress to take swift action to prevent a catastrophic default on the nation's financial obligations. In a recent letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Yellen emphasized the urgency of addressing the debt limit, warning that the government is on the brink of running out of borrowing capacity if lawmakers fail to act in time.

美國面臨提高債務上限最後期限的關鍵時刻。財政部長珍妮特耶倫敲響了警鐘，敦促國會迅速採取行動，防止國家財政義務出現災難性違約。在最近致眾議院議長邁克·約翰遜的一封信中，耶倫強調了解決債務上限問題的緊迫性，並警告說，如果立法者未能及時採取行動，政府將處於耗盡借貸能力的邊緣。

A Point of Contention in Washington

華盛頓的一個爭論點

The U.S. debt ceiling, which sets a cap on how much the government can borrow, has been a point of contention in Washington for years. As the national debt continues to rise, lawmakers are often faced with the difficult decision of whether to raise or suspend the ceiling. If the debt ceiling is not raised, the U.S. government could face serious consequences, including a default on its financial obligations, which could have far-reaching effects on both the domestic and global economy.

美國債務上限規定了政府可以藉債的上限，多年來一直是華盛頓爭論的焦點。隨著國債持續上升，立法者常常面臨是提高還是暫停上限的艱難決定。如果不提高債務上限，美國政府可能面臨嚴重後果，包括違約財務義務，這可能對國內和全球經濟產生深遠影響。

Secretary Yellen's letter to Speaker Johnson underscores the gravity of the situation. She stressed that the government has already taken extraordinary measures to manage its finances, but these measures will only be effective for a limited time. If Congress does not act soon, the U.S. Treasury will run out of funds, potentially causing disruptions in government services and payments to contractors, employees, and beneficiaries of federal programs.

國務卿耶倫致函約翰遜議長的信強調了局勢的嚴重性。她強調，政府已經採取非常措施來管理財政，但這些措施只會在有限的時間內有效。如果國會不盡快採取行動，美國財政部將耗盡資金，可能會導致政府服務以及向承包商、員工和聯邦計畫受益人的付款中斷。

The Impact of a Default

違約的影響

The consequences of the U.S. defaulting on its debt would be devastating. Not only would it undermine the country's creditworthiness, but it would also likely lead to a spike in borrowing costs, higher interest rates, and a loss of investor confidence. The ripple effects could extend globally, affecting markets, currencies, and international trade.

美國債務違約的後果將是毀滅性的。它不僅會損害該國的信譽，還可能導致借貸成本飆升、利率上升和投資者信心喪失。連鎖反應可能擴展到全球，影響市場、貨幣和國際貿易。

For many, the possibility of default is a worst-case scenario that could send shockwaves through financial markets, potentially triggering an economic downturn. Yellen's call to action serves as a timely reminder of the importance of fiscal responsibility and the need for lawmakers to prioritize national interests over political divisions.

對許多人來說，違約的可能性是最壞的情況，可能會對金融市場造成衝擊，並可能引發經濟衰退。耶倫的行動呼籲及時提醒人們財政責任的重要性以及立法者將國家利益置於政治分歧之上的必要性。

Divided Views in Congress

國會意見分歧

While Yellen has made it clear that the situation is urgent, the response from Congress has been less unified. Some lawmakers are advocating for a clean debt ceiling increase, arguing that the government needs the flexibility to manage its finances without partisan interference. Others, however, are pushing for conditions, such as spending cuts or fiscal reforms, in exchange for agreeing to raise the ceiling.

儘管耶倫明確表示情況緊急，但國會的反應卻不太統一。一些立法者主張提高債務上限，認為政府需要在不受黨派幹預的情況下靈活管理財務。然而，其他人正在推動提出條件，例如削減支出或財政改革，以換取同意提高上限。

This division in Congress has led to a political stalemate, with both sides blaming each other for the lack of progress. As the deadline draws closer, the pressure is mounting for a resolution that can prevent a default while addressing the broader fiscal challenges facing the country.

國會的這種分歧導致了政治僵局，雙方都因缺乏進展而互相指責。隨著最後期限的臨近，制定一項既能防止違約又能解決該國面臨的更廣泛財政挑戰的決議的壓力越來越大。

What's Next?

接下來是什麼？

As the deadline for raising the debt ceiling approaches, all eyes are on Congress to see whether they will come together to avoid a potential financial crisis. Yellen's warning is clear: time is running out, and the consequences of inaction could be catastrophic for both the U.S. and global economies. It remains to be seen whether lawmakers can put aside their differences and take the necessary steps to ensure the country's financial stability moving forward.

隨著提高債務上限的最後期限臨近，所有人都在關注國會是否會齊心協力避免潛在的金融危機。耶倫的警告很明確：時間已經不多了，不採取行動的後果可能對美國和全球經濟都是災難性的。立法者是否能夠擱置分歧並採取必要措施確保國家金融穩定向前發展還有待觀察。