Has the economy recovered then, we can start drawing down spending and reigning in the debt?
Heh, yeah... that day never comes, does it...
It comes when the U.S. starts experiencing inflation. The U.S. has done exactly what you're saying never happens repeatedly in the past.
Monetary policy is at the zero lower bound right now, cutting spending and reducing deficits makes literally no economic sense. Why on earth would you want to do that?