Government

What does the do?

Updates published annually

The Department of Transportation (USDOT, DOT) is a cabinet-level executive branch agency responsible for overseeing national transportation systems and infrastructure. Its functions include developing and implementing federal transportation policies; ensuring the safety and efficiency of highways, railroads, air travel, and maritime transport; and administering funding for transportation projects including local transit systems. It was established in 1966.

In FY 2024,

$117B

was spent by the Department of Transportation
In FY 2024,

1.7%

of federal spending was by the Department of Transportation

How much does the Department of Transportation spend?

The Department of Transportation spent $117.4 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 1.7% of the $6.78 trillion in overall federal spending. The department ranked 9 among federal agencies in total spending.

The Department of Transportation accounted for 1.7% of all federal spending in FY 2024.

Share of DOT 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 Transportation’s federal spending has increased from $70.7 billion in 1980 to $117.4 billion in 2024.

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

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

Since 1980, the Department of Transportation's spending has increased 65.9%, 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, DOT accounted for 1.7% of all federal spending. That’s 0.4 percentage points lower than 2014 and 1.3 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 Department of Transportation’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

Percentage of federal budget dedicated to DOT, 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 Transportation transferred 81.2% of its total spending to states and local governments.
The chart below outlines all DOT spending.

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

Federal government net spending isolated to DOT, FY 2024

Federal agencies often contain divisions including bureaus, offices, and subagencies. In FY 2024, the Department of Transportation divisions with the highest expenditures were the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Department of Transportation's highest-spending division is the Federal Highway Administration.

DOT net spending by division, FY 2024

Read related content about the Department of Transportation:

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  • Best and worst road quality: Arkansas has improved its road conditions the most since 2000, decreasing the percentage of its roads considered “poor” by 26.8 percentage points over 20 years.

How many people work for the Department of Transportation?

Some 57,000 of the 2.31 million total civilian federal employees work for the Department of Transportation as of September 2024. This is 0.14% fewer people than the department staffed in 2010.

The number of federal employees working for the Department of Transportation has decreased 0.14% since 2010.

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

DOT accounts for 2.5% 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. DOT constituted a smaller share of the overall federal workforce in September 2024 than in 2010 (2.8%).
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 Transportation’s share of the workforce (2.5%) is larger than its share of the budget (1.7%).

Who leads the Department of Transportation?

DOT is headed by the secretary of Transportation, 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. They are responsible for overseeing national transportation policies and systems. 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.

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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