NEW YORK — Even if Congress approves a deal to raise the federal government’s debt ceiling, the U.S. could still lose its coveted AAA debt rating sometime in the next six months, largely because the proposed agreement does not cut enough spending.
The three main ratings agencies declined to comment Monday on the prospect of future downgrades. But the agencies, along with economists and analysts, have signaled that doubts about the nation’s debt will persist.
Moody’s Investors Services has said it will probably rate the U.S. debt as AAA for now but with a negative outlook — a rating that indicates a possible downgrade to come.
Fitch Ratings has indicated the deficit must be reduced to a “more sustainable level” for the U.S. to maintain its AAA rating. And Standard & Poor’s has said any deal to raise the debt ceiling must cut at least $4 trillion from future budget deficits or the rating will probably be lowered to AA. The Associated Press
