Government

What does the do?

Updates published annually

The Department of Justice (DOJ, Justice Department) is an executive branch agency responsible for enforcing federal laws and ensuring public safety. Its functions include prosecuting criminal and civil cases, overseeing federal law enforcement agencies, managing federal prisons, upholding civil rights, and issuing justice-related grants. It was established in 1870.

In FY 2024,

$44B

was spent by the Department of Justice
In FY 2024,

0.6%

of federal spending was by the Department of Justice

How much does the Department of Justice spend?

The Department of Justice spent $44 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 0.6% of the $6.78 trillion in overall federal spending. The department ranked 14th among federal agencies in total spending.

The Department of Justice accounted for 0.6% of all federal spending in FY 2024.

Share of DOJ 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 Department of Justice’s federal spending has increased from $9.49 billion in 1980 to $44 billion in 2024.

The Department of Justice’s federal spending in FY 2024 was higher than in FY 1980.

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

Since 1980, the Department of Justice's spending has increased 363.4%, while overall spending has increased 193.7%.
The department’s spending grew more than overall spending, which means that the department’s share of the federal budget increased. In 2024, DOJ accounted for 0.6% of all federal spending. That’s 0.2 percentage points higher than 1980 and 0.2 points higher than in 2014.
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 Department of Justice’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was higher than in FY 1980.

Percentage of federal budget dedicated to DOJ, 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, the Department of Justice transferred 12.7% of its total spending to states and local governments.
The chart below outlines all DOJ spending.

How did the Department of Justice spend its budget in 2024?

Federal government net spending isolated to DOJ, FY 2024

Federal agencies often contain divisions including bureaus, offices, and subagencies. In FY 2024, the Department of Justice divisions with the highest expenditures were the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Prisons, and the US Marshals.

The Department of Justice's highest-spending division is the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

DOJ net spending by division, FY 2024

Read related content about the Department of Justice:

  • Property crime trends: The national property crime rate increased in 2022, driven by rising larceny and motor vehicle theft rates.
  • Crime rates by state: Between 2021 and 2022, New York’s violent crime rate rose 39.2%, while its property crime rate rose 64.3%.

How many people work for the Department of Justice?

Some 117,000 of the 2.31 million total civilian federal employees work for the Department of Justice as of September 2024. This is 0.2% more people than the department staffed in 2010.

The number of federal employees working for the Department of Justice has increased 0.2% since 2010.

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

DOJ accounts for 5.1% 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. DOJ constituted a smaller share of the overall federal workforce in September 2024 than in 2010 (5.6%).
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 Department of Justice’s share of the workforce (5.1%) is larger than its share of the budget (0.6%).

Who leads the Department of Justice?

The DOJ is headed by the attorney general, who is nominated by the president, confirmed by the Senate, and then sworn into office. They are one of the 15 cabinet members who serve at the president’s discretion. This appointed position typically ends when the appointee resigns, is replaced, or when a new president assumes office and appoints their own cabinet, though some may serve temporarily during transitions between administrations.

The president also appoints a United States attorney to enforce federal law in the 94 federal districts.

Keep exploring

Enter some text...
Enter some text...

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