NEW YORK, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In a speech to the Economic Club of New York, Henry M. Paulson, Jr. former U.S. Treasury Secretary and the Chairman of the Paulson Institute called for renewed American leadership to respond to the changing world order.

Paulson argued, in his address, "U.S. Leadership in an Evolving Global Order," that for America to lead globally, it we must continue to strengthen economic and democratic foundations at home.

"We are headed into uncharted waters. But there is one thing I am certain of: American leadership is indispensable," Paulson said.

Paulson identified three defining challenges:

• Political dysfunction: Growing polarization and government gridlock threaten America's ability to address pressing economic challenges and sustain its global leadership. Paulson emphasized that effective democratic institutions remain essential to economic strength and international credibility.
   
• Artificial intelligence: AI is the most consequential force shaping the emerging global order, Paulson warned of significant workforce disruption, particularly in white-collar and service-sector jobs. He called for unprecedented collaboration among government, business, and academia to prepare workers, accelerate retraining a future workforce, and establish safeguards against emerging AI risks.
  
  
• National debt: America's debt trajectory is unsustainable and a direct threat to economic prosperity and national security. Annual interest on our national debt exceeds $1 trillion, "roughly $3 billion every day or about $7,500 for every household," argues Paulson. Policymakers must confront difficult fiscal choices before rising debt obligations inhibit investments in innovation, infrastructure, and national priorities.

Beyond domestic challenges, strong international collaboration and predictable economic policies are essential to global peace and stability as shared threats, including climate change, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies like AI, threaten every corner of the world.

"Openness has always been America's comparative advantage," Paulson said, underscoring the importance of maintaining an open economic system while protecting critical technologies and supply chains.

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About the Paulson Institute

The Paulson Institute is a non-partisan, independent "think and do tank" dedicated to fostering global relationships that advance economic prosperity, promote sustainable growth, and maintain global order in a rapidly evolving world.

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SOURCE The Paulson Institute