Paying back a friend isn’t the only thing you can use Venmo for anymore. The U.S. government now accepts the mobile payment app for donations aimed at reducing the national debt.
Pay.gov expands donation options
Earlier this year, Venmo was added as a payment option on Pay.gov, a platform managed by the Treasury Department’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service. While the federal government has long accepted donations toward the debt, this update expands the ways people can contribute, including through credit cards, debit cards, bank accounts and mobile apps.
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On Wednesday night, July 23, an X post from NPR’s Jack Corbett drew widespread attention by sharing a snapshot of the Treasury Department’s “Gifts to Reduce the Public Debt” page.
People can visit Pay.gov, complete a quick form and send their donation directly from their phone or computer.
With the national debt topping $37 trillion, broadening digital payment options makes it easier for Americans who want to help.
Public donations track back decades, now more accessible
The U.S. Treasury Department has tracked public donations to the federal government since at least 1996. Treasury data shows that since then, Americans have chipped in about $67.3 million to the ever-growing national debt. In April 2025 alone, Americans contributed nearly $174,000. In September 2015, the federal government received $2.3 million in public donations.
Donations to reduce the federal debt are eligible for a tax deduction in certain cases, according to the IRS.
The addition of Venmo in March followed similar moves to modernize payments on Pay.gov. The portal already accepts PayPal, which owns Venmo, and aims to streamline donations for both agencies and the public.
