美国债务上限期限临近，财长耶伦拉响警报

随着美国提高债务上限的最后期限临近，财政部长珍妮特·耶伦敲响了警钟，敦促国会迅速采取行动

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.

美国面临提高债务上限最后期限的关键时刻。财政部长珍妮特·耶伦敲响了警钟，敦促国会迅速采取行动，防止国家财政义务出现灾难性违约。在最近致众议院议长迈克·约翰逊的一封信中，耶伦强调了解决债务上限问题的紧迫性，并警告说，如果立法者未能及时采取行动，政府将处于耗尽借贷能力的边缘。

A Point of Contention in Washington

华盛顿的一个争论点

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.

美国债务上限规定了政府可以借债的上限，多年来一直是华盛顿争论的焦点。随着国债持续上升，立法者常常面临是提高还是暂停上限的艰难决定。如果不提高债务上限，美国政府可能面临严重后果，包括违约财务义务，这可能对国内和全球经济产生深远影响。

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.

国务卿耶伦致函约翰逊议长的信强调了局势的严重性。她强调，政府已经采取非常措施来管理财政，但这些措施只会在有限的时间内有效。如果国会不尽快采取行动，美国财政部将耗尽资金，可能会导致政府服务以及向承包商、雇员和联邦计划受益人的付款中断。

The Impact of a Default

违约的影响

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.

美国债务违约的后果将是毁灭性的。它不仅会损害该国的信誉，还可能导致借贷成本飙升、利率上升和投资者信心丧失。连锁反应可能会扩展到全球，影响市场、货币和国际贸易。

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.

对于许多人来说，违约的可能性是最坏的情况，可能会给金融市场带来冲击，并可能引发经济衰退。耶伦的行动呼吁及时提醒人们财政责任的重要性以及立法者将国家利益置于政治分歧之上的必要性。

Divided Views in Congress

国会意见分歧

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.

尽管耶伦明确表示情况紧急，但国会的反应却不太统一。一些立法者主张提高债务上限，认为政府需要在不受党派干预的情况下灵活地管理财务。然而，其他人正在推动提出条件，例如削减支出或财政改革，以换取同意提高上限。

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.

国会的这种分歧导致了政治僵局，双方都因缺乏进展而互相指责。随着最后期限的临近，制定一项既能防止违约又能解决该国面临的更广泛财政挑战的决议的压力越来越大。

What's Next?

接下来是什么？

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.

随着提高债务上限的最后期限临近，所有人都在关注国会是否会齐心协力避免潜在的金融危机。耶伦的警告很明确：时间已经不多了，不采取行动的后果可能对美国和全球经济都是灾难性的。立法者是否能够搁置分歧并采取必要措施确保国家金融稳定向前发展还有待观察。