Best bet on maintaining that system is to help the economy create more jobs. I was thinking of using our military power to sorta' coerce other countries to pay us tribute, or accept occupation. That right there would create a need for a colonial bureaucracy sufficient to the task.
We haven't had a big ol' Empire on this planet for quite some time ~ and we need the money eh!
Borrowed? LOL...
I’m pretty sure that’s called cooking the books.