Government

What does the do?

Updates published annually

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent federal agency responsible for protecting consumers and promoting fair competition in the marketplace. It investigates deceptive advertising, fraudulent business practices, and antitrust violations, while also providing consumer education and developing policies to maintain a competitive economy. It was established in 1914.

In FY 2024,

$225M

was spent by the Federal Trade Commission
In FY 2024,

<0.1%

of federal spending was by the Federal Trade Commission

How much does the Federal Trade Commission spend?

The Federal Trade Commission spent $225.2 million in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 0.0033% of the $6.78 trillion in overall federal spending. The department ranked 53rd among federal agencies in total spending.

The Federal Trade Commission accounted for <0.1% of all federal spending in FY 2024.

Share of FTC net spending compared to the top ten highest spending agencies in FY 2024

Federal spending may shift over time due to population growth, changes in policy and programs, and emerging problems to address. Adjusting for inflation, the Federal Trade Commission’s federal spending has decreased from $266.8 million in 1980 to $225.2 million in 2024.

The Federal Trade Commission’s federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

Yearly federal net spending by FTC, adjusted for inflation (2024 dollars), FYs 1980–2024

Since 1980, the Federal Trade Commission's spending has decreased 15.6%, while overall spending has increased 193.7%.
The department’s spending grew less than overall spending, which means that the department’s share of the federal budget decreased. In 2024, FTC accounted for 0.0033% of all federal spending. That’s 0.0021 percentage points lower than 2014 and 0.0082 points lower than in 1980.
Major legislation, internal or global economic conditions, and acute events like the COVID-19 pandemic can affect spending year to year. For example, the federal budget fluctuated during the pandemic, rising from $5.3 trillion (in 2023 dollars) in 2019 to $7.7 trillion in 2020 and $7.8 trillion in 2021.

The Federal Trade Commission’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

Percentage of federal budget dedicated to FTC, FYs 1980–2024

Most federal spending can be categorized as direct or indirect. Direct spending refers to money the federal government spends on budget items such as federal programs, employee salaries, and debt interest. Indirect spending refers to federal transfers to state and local governments.
In FY 2024, all of the Federal Trade Commission's spending was direct.
The chart below outlines all FTC spending.

How did the Federal Trade Commission spend its budget in 2024?

Federal government net spending isolated to FTC, FY 2024

How many people work for the Federal Trade Commission?

Some 1,000 of the 2.31 million total civilian federal employees work for the Federal Trade Commission as of September 2024. This is 11.3% more people than the department staffed in 2010.

The number of federal employees working for the Federal Trade Commission has increased 11.3% since 2010.

Number of federal employees working for FTC, September 2010–2024

FTC accounts for 0.057% of the overall federal workforce. As the number of federal employees has changed, so too has the way the workforce is organized, with resources allocated to agencies depending on government priorities. FTC constituted a similar share of the overall federal workforce in September 2024 than in 2010 (0.057%).
While the number of employees on an agency’s payroll contributes to that agency’s expenditures, some agencies have relatively few employees compared to their budget or vice versa, giving them an outsized share of either the budget or the workforce. According to the most recent data, the Federal Trade Commission's share of the workforce (0.057%) is larger than its share of the budget (0.0033%).

Who leads the Federal Trade Commission?

The FTC is led by a Chairperson, who is appointed by the president from among the five commissioners and confirmed by the Senate. Commissioners serve staggered seven-year terms, and the president designates one of them to serve as Chair.

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.

  • Office of Personnel Management

    FedScope

  • Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury

    Budget of the US Government and Monthly Treasury Statement

    Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury logo