Adeyemo’s remarks are the most concrete indication yet that Biden does not plan to use the amendment to solve the nation’s debt ceiling issue. The U.S. risks economic calamity if a debt deal isn’t reached.

“The 14th Amendment can’t solve our challenges now. Ultimately, the only thing that can do that is Congress doing what it’s done 78 other times — raising the debt limit,” the deputy treasury secretary said. “We don’t have a plan B that allows us to meet the commitments that we’ve made to our creditors, to our seniors, to our veterans, to the American people.”