The U.S. Treasury has for decades accepted charitable contributions from everyday Americans to help pay down the national debt, which currently stands at more than $36 trillion. For years now, those interested have been able to make contributions via credit card, debit card and bank account via Pay.gov. But now, it’s as easy as reimbursing your friends after a night out.
NPR reporter Jack Corbett first noticed on Wednesday that the Treasury had quietly added the option to contribute via the payment app Venmo. Per the Wayback Machine, it appears that this change was made sometime between Feb. 22 and March 8. A Treasury spokesperson did not comment on the new payment method when contacted by Business Insider.
Adding a payment method that appeals to younger and more tech-savvy generations is certainly a smart idea. The Treasury received about $434,500 in gifts in the first five months of the year. Total contributions last year were $2.7 million, and in 2023 people gave about $1 million.
