Government spending articles
Get unbiased data and visuals on federal budgets, state and local governments, foreign aid, disasters relief, and other government programs.
Just the Facts about the federal budget
Steve talks about the federal budget, including how the government makes money (namely, income taxes) and how revenue collection and spending decisions impact the US federal deficit and debt, military spending, and American daily life.
How many Americans voted in 2024?
According to the Census Bureau, 65.3% of US citizens voted in the 2024 election, the third-highest turnout in the past 34 years. Turnout increased by 13.1 percentage points since the most recent mid-term elections in 2022, but decreased by 1.5 percentage points since the 2020 presidential election.
Jun 18, 2025Is Social Security running out?
The federal government spent $1.5 trillion on Social Security in fiscal year 2024. This accounted for 22.4% of the total federal budget. The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides financial support for people of retirement age, people with disabilities, and survivors of family losses including spouses and children. In 2024 Social Security spending included: $1.3 trillion (86%) went to retirement benefits $155 billion (11%) went to disability benefits $54 billion (4%) covered other benefits How many people receive Social Security benefits? The SSA projects that nearly 69 million people will receive benefits monthly in 2025. In December 2024, nearly 90% of people ages 65 and older were enrolled in the program. That amounted to 68.5 million people, including: 51.8 million retired workers and their 2.6 million spouses and dependents 7.2 million disabled workers and their 1.1 million spouses and dependents 5.8 million survivors
Jun 18, 2025What does the Customs and Border Protection do?
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a subdivision of the US Department of Homeland Security responsible for safeguarding the nation's borders and facilitating lawful international trade and travel. The agency enforces immigration laws, prevents the illegal entry of goods and individuals, and ensures the security of the US border. It also works to prevent the trafficking of drugs, weapons, and other contraband. It was established in 2003.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Immigration and Customs Enforcement do?
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a subdivision of the US Department of Homeland Security responsible for enforcing immigration laws, investigating criminal activities, and ensuring national security. ICE conducts investigations, detains and deports individuals who violate immigration laws, and works to dismantle criminal organizations involved in human trafficking, drug smuggling, and other illegal activities. It was established in 2003.
Updates annuallyWhat does it cost the IRS to collect taxes?
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) spent $16.1 billion to collect $4.7 trillion in taxes in 2023. In other words, it cost the agency 34 cents to collect $100. Collecting trillions of dollars from a population of 336 million people and around 35 million businesses is no small project. The IRS’s staff of 82,990 people collects and evaluates returns, issues refunds, offers taxpayer assistance, oversees tax-exempt organizations, and enforces tax law.
Jun 13, 2025What does the Department of Homeland Security do?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a cabinet-level executive branch agency responsible for protecting the United States against potential threats. Its primary functions include anti-terrorism efforts, border security, immigration and customs enforcement, cybersecurity, and disaster prevention and management. It was established in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and began operations in 2003.
Updates annuallyWhat does the State Department do?
The Department of State (State Department, DOS) is an executive branch agency responsible for conducting US foreign policy and diplomatic relations. Its functions include negotiating treaties, representing the US in international organizations, issuing passports and visas, coordinating refugee and humanitarian assistance, and overseeing foreign aid and embassy operations. It was established in 1789.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Commission on Civil Rights do?
The US Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) is an independent, bipartisan federal agency responsible for informing national civil rights policy and monitoring enforcement of federal civil rights laws. It investigates voting rights complaints and studies issues related to discrimination and unequal treatment based on race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin. It also collects and shares information on civil rights issues to support public understanding and policy development. It was established in 1957.
Updates annuallyHow universities spend billions in government funds
Aside from student financial aid, the federal government funds universities with grants and contracts. One major way universities use this funding is for research and development (R&D). In FY 2023, federal dollars supported $59.6 billion of university R&D expenses. The fields that received the most funding in 2023 were life sciences and engineering. Life sciences programs, the study of the nature and function of living things, received $33.9 billion, or 56.9% of federal grant and contract funding. Enginering applies math and physics to solve practical problems by designing, building, and improving structures, systems, and processes. Engineering R&D received $10.9 billion, or 18.3% of federal funding.
May 6, 2025Where do tornadoes do the most damage?
Texans have coped with the highest death and injury tolls from tornados in recent years, while Floridians have dealt with the most property damage. Which states have the most tornadoes? Between 2020 and 2024, every state except Hawaii recorded at least one tornado, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data. Texas, the largest state in the continental US by land area, recorded 516, for an annual average of 103.2. The states with the next-highest totals were Illinois (491) and Iowa (462) while the largest state overall, Alaska, had one.
May 2, 2025How many civilian jobs are in the US federal government?
About 2.96 million, as of May 2025. Federal jobs include all jobs ranging from janitors to air traffic controllers to nurses to postal workers and more. (Enlisted service people are considered government employees but aren’t included in this figure because they’re not civilians.) Out of the 159.6 million nonfarm jobs in the US, 1.9% are in the federal government, the nation’s largest employer. Another way to look at it: The federal government is responsible for one in every 50 jobs.
Updates monthlyData Skills for Congress returns to empower with the facts
The third year of Data Skills for Congress officially began this month, with nearly 30 congressional staffers participating in the program designed to strengthen data use on Capitol Hill.This unique course, a collaboration between USAFacts and the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, equips legislative staff with the tools and training needed to better access, analyze, and apply government data in their daily work — whether drafting legislation, conducting oversight, or serving constituents.Why data skills matter for congressional staffCongressional staff play a critical role in shaping and supporting legislation that affects Americans across the country. Yet many lack formal training in working with data, despite the crucial need for evidence-based policymaking.Data Skills for Congress launched in 2023 to fill this gap. It’s the first program of its kind approved by both the House and Senate ethics committees, enabling staff from both chambers to participate without cost.Over the 10-week hybrid program, participants explore federal data sources, learn how to communicate big ideas with data visualizations, are introduced to AI and cutting-edge data tools, and complete a capstone project that applies their new skills to a real-world policy issue.A growing data community on Capitol HillUSAFacts launched the program with the goal of making helping policymakers use government data in decision making, part of its broader mission to empower Americans with the facts.In its first two years, Data Skills for Congress enrolled nearly 90 congressional staff. And participants have overwhelmingly positive feedback: 84% of 2024’s alumni from the cohort said that the class helped them improve their data visualization and AI skills for congressional work.Participants strongly recommend the course to others on the Hill. Some described it as an “essential” skill set for the modern congressional office, with one student noting, “I never thought of myself as a ‘math person.’ This course taught me that I can work with data and made me feel more confident using it in my congressional work.” “We created this program because we believe that government works better when everyone — including policymakers — can easily access and understand the numbers behind it,” said Poppy MacDonald, president of USAFacts. “We’re thrilled to see it continue to grow in its third year.”What’s nextThe spring 2025 cohort began on April 18th and will run through mid-June. A condensed version of the class will run during the August recess, allowing more congressional staff to take advantage. With participants representing a range of committees and offices, the program continues to reflect bipartisan interest in data-driven policymaking.To learn more about the program — or to apply for a future cohort — visit the Data Skills for Congress page.
Apr 22, 2025Which states contribute the most and least to federal revenue?
In 2023, the federal government collected around $4.67 trillion from states and their residents through taxes on individuals and businesses and redistributed about $4.56 trillion back to states and residents through programs like Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps, and education grants.The balance varies by state: New Yorkers paid about $89 billion more to the federal government than they received, while Virginians received about $79 billion more than they paid.
Apr 22, 2025How do marijuana laws differ between states?
While marijuana remains illegal at the federal level per the 1970 Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the US has become a patchwork of state-determined laws pertaining to the drug. Some states have legalized recreational marijuana, others allow medicinal use and/or CBD oil. A few states have decriminalized the plant, and a handful follow the federal guidelines. What does marijuana legalization mean?In the United States, marijuana legalization refers to the process of making marijuana use, possession, and sales legal under certain conditions. Adults in states that legalize the drug can use it for both medical and recreational purposes, following state laws. Legalization allows for regulated sales of products that contain cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Medical cannabis laws also fall under this category, permitting patients with conditions such as chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, insomnia, and depression to use the substances for treatment. Since marijuana remains federally classified as an illegal drug, state legalization has many implications on federal income taxes filed by dispensaries, as well as the cross-border sale and transportation of cannabis products.
Apr 18, 2025Is there a shortage of air traffic controllers?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) controls 290 air control facilities. And as of September 2023, nearly half of them were understaffed. In 2023, the FAA established a 85.0% staffing goal for terminal air control facilities. One-hundred and twenty eight of them fell short of that target. Meanwhile, 162 facilities met or exceeded the staffing goal. Fifty-two had staffing levels of more than 100%; this was partially due to intentional overstaffing of new hires to account for expected attrition over the next two or three years. How understaffed were the facilities that fell short of the goal? Eighty-four had staffing ranges between 75.0% and 84.9%. The remaining 44 were staffed to 74.9% capacity or less.In 2024, the FAA employed more than 14,000 air traffic controllers.
Mar 31, 2025What is the federal government’s budget deficit?
About $1.7 trillion deficit in fiscal year (FY) 2023.. A budget deficit occurs when the federal government spends more money than it brings in through taxes, customs duties, the sale of assets, and other revenues. When the government has a deficit, it borrows money by selling bonds and other securities in order to pay for it, adding to the national debt. A budget surplus, on the other hand, occurs when the government brings in more money than it spends.
Updates monthlyHow much does the US federal government spend?
About $6.8 trillion in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This averages about $19,900 per person in the US. The amount the government can spend depends on the amount of revenue it collects (e.g., through taxes, customs duties, and other sources). If it has to spend more revenue than it brings in, it borrows the funds, creating debt.
Updates monthlyHow much money does the US federal government collect?
About $4.9 trillion in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This is about $14,600 per person in the US, however individual contributions vary based on income, spending, and other factors. Government revenue is the total amount of money received from individual and corporate taxes, and other sources that are used to pay for government spending.
Updates monthlyHow much money has the US given Ukraine since Russia’s invasion?
From Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 through December 2024, the United States allocated $182.8 billion in emergency funding for the region. But “allocated” means the money is available, not that it’s been spent: So far, the United States has actually disbursed $83.4 billion in funding and equipment, some of which Ukraine will have to repay with added interest. Aid for Ukraine goes through a cross-agency operation called Operation Atlantic Resolve (OAR), which began after Russia invaded Crimea in 2014 to deter Russian aggression against NATO. When Russia invaded Ukraine, the operation shifted focus to address the needs of Ukraine and other partners.
Mar 14, 2025USAFacts and bias: Why we care about nonpartisanship
USAFacts is here for a clear reason — to make information about the US government accessible to the public, so that people can make informed decisions on how the government is representing their interests.That Americans deserve access government data without political or corporate influence is baked into our mission. As a non-government, nonprofit organization, we are in a unique position to deliver information without the same motivations as a private corporation or a partisan advocacy organization.Ad Fontes Media, which rates media on reliability and partisanship, publishes a periodic report scoring media companies and organizations by their trustworthiness and political leaning.In the most recent version of their Media Bias Chart, released in March 2025, USAFacts earned the highest reliability rating and the lowest bias score on the entire chart. We’re proud that Ad Fontes’s methodology sees our work at USAFacts as reliable and nonpartisan.
Mar 13, 2025What does the Department of Education do?
The Department of Education (Education Department, ED) is a cabinet-level executive branch agency responsible for overseeing education policy and administering funding for programs and individuals. The department's functions include supporting state and local education systems, promoting educational equity for all students, and providing grants and loans to higher education institutions and students. It was established in 1980 after the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was reorganized into separate entities.
Updates annuallyHow much does the US spend on defense?
About $820 billion in fiscal year 2023. Defense spending includes personnel compensation, equipment, research and development (R&D), and the costs associated with operating and maintaining military efforts. The Department of Defense is responsible for most spending on national defense, along with other agencies like the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice.
What countries receive the most foreign aid from the US?
In fiscal year (FY) 2023 — the most recent fully-reported year — Ukraine received $16.6 billion, the most of any country. This amount reflects disbursements, a measure of foreign aid that captures when money is actually transferred out of US government accounts. Foreign aid is reported by more than 20 agencies within the federal government that fund foreign assistance activities.
How much foreign aid does the US provide?
About $79.5 billion in aid was promised for fiscal year (FY) 2023, the most recent fully-reported year. The United States gives foreign assistance to provide humanitarian aid and support peace, security, and economic development around the world. Investing in global security and stability serves US national security interests by creating strategic and economic connections with other countries.
Updates monthlyWhat percentage of public school funding in the US comes from the federal government?
About 13.7% or one in every seven dollars of public school funding during the 2021–22 school year. Local and state governments typically provide most school district funding, with the federal government providing the rest. Federal sources provide as little as 0% and as much as 75% of funding, depending on the district. Federal funding depends on factors such as poverty levels and other student demographics, availability of state and local revenues, and whether a district is urban, suburban, or rural. During 2021–22, which is the latest year of data available, public schools received $124.9 billion, or $2,536 in federal funds per student.
Updates annuallyHow much debt does the US have?
About $36.2 trillion as of May 2025. The federal government borrows money when its spending and investments cannot be funded by federal revenue alone; this debt enables the government to pay for programs and services when funds aren’t immediately available.
Updates monthlyHow much federal money goes toward all state and local governments?
About $1.1 trillion in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This total includes money transferred to states, tribal governments, and local governments, such as cities and counties. Federal funding helps state and local governments pay for things like infrastructure, education, and health care for low-income people. In FY 2024, these transfers made up 16.2% of all federal spending.
What does the Department of Agriculture do?
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is cabinet-level executive branch agency responsible for developing and executing federal policies on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues. Its functions include supporting farmers and ranchers, ensuring food safety, promoting agricultural trade, conserving natural resources and the environment, and addressing hunger both domestically and internationally. It was established in 1862.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Department of the Treasury do?
The Department of the Treasury (Department of Treasury, TREAS) is a cabinet-level executive branch agency responsible for overseeing economic conditions and ensuring the financial security of the United States. The department's functions include advising the president on economic matters, managing federal finances, collecting taxes through the Internal Revenue Service, producing currency, and supervising national banks. It was established in 1789 and is the second-oldest department in the federal government.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Office of Personnel Management do?
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is an independent executive branch agency responsible for managing the civil service of the federal government. Its functions include coordinating the recruitment of new government employees, managing health insurance and retirement benefits programs, and providing resources for job seekers. Established in 1979, it serves as the chief human resources agency and personnel policy manager for the federal government.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Social Security Administration do?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is an independent executive branch agency responsible for administering Social Security, a program that provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to eligible people. Its functions include managing the distribution of monthly payments to beneficiaries, enrolling Medicare recipients, and overseeing the issuance of Social Security numbers and cards. It was established in 1935 as part of the Social Security Act.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Department of Defense do?
The Department of Defense (DOD) is cabinet-level executive branch agency tasked with maintaining and overseeing the military forces of the United States. Its primary functions include overseeing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force; creating military policies; and managing the defense budget. It was established in 1947.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Department of Veterans Affairs do?
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a cabinet-level executive branch agency responsible for providing healthcare services, benefits programs, and access to national cemeteries for the nation's veterans and their dependents. It was established as the Veterans Administration in 1930 and elevated to cabinet status in 1989.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Department of Transportation do?
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.
Updates annuallyWhat does USAID do?
USAID (US Agency for International Development) is an independent executive branch agency responsible for administering foreign aid and economic development assistance outside the US. Its functions include supporting economic growth, global health, and education; providing humanitarian aid in response to crises; and advancing US foreign policy goals through partnerships. It was established in 1961 as part of the Foreign Assistance Act.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Department of Health and Human Services do?
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a cabinet-level executive branch agency responsible for overseeing public health policy and administering funding for health programs and services. The department's functions include managing national health programs like Medicare and Medicaid, advancing medical research, ensuring food and drug safety, and promoting health equity for all individuals. It was established in 1980 after the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was reorganized into separate entities.
Updates annuallyWhat is IES and what does it do?
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) is the nonpartisan research, evaluation, and statistics office of the Department of Education. Its main functions are funding research to test new approaches to education, evaluating federal programs for educational effectiveness, and reporting data on how well the nation is educating its students. IES is the smallest component of the Education Department. The department requested $283.8 billion of its fiscal year 2025 budget; the institute accounted for 0.29% of that. In 2024, the Department of Education was the sixth highest-funded federal agency.
Feb 20, 2025This chart tells you everything you want to know about government spending
Each year, the federal government takes in trillions of dollars in revenue and spends those trillions (and often more) to address its domestic and global objectives. Dividing this budget by revenue sources and spending programs across the branches of government provides a wealth of insight into how the federal government works, where its spending priorities lie, and how it funds programs. Government spending data is a part of USAFacts’ backbone, and we believe that American taxpayers — the shareholders responsible for providing most government resources — are entitled to information on how the federal government operates. That starts with the budget. In this data visualization — called a Sankey chart — USAFacts breaks down the most recent federal budget data:
Feb 6, 2025How many people work for the federal government?
As of November 2024, the federal government employed just over 3 million people. The number of federal employees has topped 3 million since September 2024. The last time the government could claim that many employees was in September 1994. Federal employment numbers peaked at 3.4 million in 1990 and the most recent low was in 2014, with 2.7 million. Federal government employees work at departments or agencies housed under one of the three branches of government — executive, legislative, or judicial, though most federal agencies are under the federal executive branch. Across all US industries, it’s the 15th-largest workforce overall. How has the federal workforce changed over time? Between 1929 and 1945, the United States was grappling with the Great Depression and World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced the New Deal in 1933, and over the next five years established numerous new federal agencies – agencies requiring people to staff them. Some agencies created during this period are still around, like the Social Security Administration and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Dec 19, 2024Which government programs does the Government Accountability Office consider inefficient?
Thirty-seven government spending priorities are considered highly vulnerable to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, according to the latest list from the independent and nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO).The GAO provides unbiased, fact-based information to save taxpayers money and encourage government efficiency. Since 1990, it has produced a list of federal programs at high risk for financial issues and in need of reform.Which government programs are vulnerable to waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement? Of the 37 programs included on the list, 26 have been designated as high-risk for at least 10 years. Five programs have been on the list since its first iteration in 1990.The 2023 list included three new areas of spending:the federal prison systemthe Department of Health and Human Services’ management of public health emergenciesthe unemployment insurance system
Dec 5, 2024USAFacts’ top 10 articles of 2024
In 2024, Americans came to USAFacts seeking information about safety and homelessness across the US, how many people are immigrating here, the 2024 election, and government spending related to foreign aid and foreign debt.Here are the 10 most-read articles of the year.10. How many voters have a party affiliation?With the presidential election on the horizon, Americans wanted to understand how many voters have a political affiliation. But such a thing isn’t on record nationwide: 32 states and Washington, DC, require party affiliation as part of voter registration.As of late September, Wyoming had the highest percentage of registered Republican voters (81%), and Washington, DC, had the highest percentage of registered Democrats (76%). Maryland had the highest percentage of registered Democrats of all states (52%).
Dec 3, 2024How many people receive government assistance?
Nearly 100 million Americans received some form of government assistance in 2019, according to a 2023 estimate from the Department of Health and Human Services.The federal government has assistance programs in place to support Americans who can’t afford food, housing, healthcare, and other needs. This is sometimes referred to as a social safety net, a system of programs designed to support people struggling economically. In 2022, around one in three Americans was enrolled in at least one of those programs, including nearly half of all American kids.
Sep 24, 2024State of the Facts 2024: Americans’ views on data, election information, and AI
Impartial, trustworthy data is a crucial component of our mission at USAFacts, and we are committed to making government data accessible to the public. But how do Americans feel about data and facts?AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research conducts the State of the Facts poll in conjunction with USAFacts to better understand how Americans feel about facts and where data is sourced. This year’s findings show that adults find it hard to tell if information is true or not. They also rely on data and transparency to verify it.Do Americans trust information they get about the government?Although social media is among respondents’ most-used sources for getting information from the government (40% report using social media to get government data), Americans also cite low levels of trust in information on social platforms.They’re also less likely to trust businesses, and artificial intelligence (AI) for accurate data. They’re most likely to trust public TV or radio, national TV news networks, and local TV news.
Sep 10, 2024Are major natural disasters increasing?
The number of natural weather disasters with damages of more than a billion dollars has increased over the last forty years, from an average 3.3 per year in the 1980s to 17+ from 2014–2023.The National Centers for Environmental Information has kept track of billion-dollar natural disasters since 1980 and cites increased exposure, vulnerability, and climate change as reasons for the increase.Are billion-dollar natural disasters becoming more frequent?Of the 10 years with the most natural disasters, nine were in the last decade.Since 1980, there have been 395 natural weather disasters in the US with total costs over $1 billion in 2024 dollars, including 201 severe storms, 63 tropical cyclones (or hurricanes), 44 floods, 31 droughts, 24 winter storms, 23 wildfires, and nine freezes. In total, these disasters cost $2.77 trillion (adjusting for inflation) and took the lives of nearly 16,500 people.The bulk of these events happened post-1990: In the 1980s, there were a total of 33 billion-dollar natural disaster events, with 2,994 deaths. In the last 10 full years (2014–2023), this number rose to 173, resulting in 5,872 deaths. All told, nearly 40% of the billion-dollar climate events that have hit the US since 1980 happened between 2017 and the present day.
Sep 6, 2024How much does the VA spend?
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the fifth-largest spender among federal agencies, accounting for 3.5% of federal spending in fiscal year (FY) 2023. Adjusting for inflation, VA expenditures increased nearly 70% over the last decade, from $180 billion in FY 2013 to $301 billion in FY 2023.
Aug 22, 2024How much money does the federal government spend to support disabled veterans?
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation provides monthly benefits to veterans with service-related disabilities. Disability compensation accounted for an estimated 43% of the VA budget in 2023. The share of veterans receiving disability compensation rose to 25% in 2020 from 9% in 2000.Disability program costs have grown to $149.4 billion in 2023.Two factors are driving this spending growth — the overall number of veterans receiving disability compensation and the number of veterans classified with the most severe service-connected disabilities, who receive more benefits.How is veteran disability determined?A veteran's disability compensation is based on a combined disability rating that measures the degree of disability from 0% to 100%. The rating, which takes multiple disabilities into account to create a single score, represents the extent to which a veteran’s disabilities decrease their overall health and ability to function.While the number of veterans with a rating between 0% to 20% has remained roughly constant in the last 20 years, the number of veterans with a rating between 70% and 100% is almost seven times higher. As the number of more severely disabled veterans has increased, so has disability compensation program spending — from $10,013 per enrolled veteran in 2000 to $16,100 in 2022.
Aug 20, 2024What is the US national debt and how has it grown over time?
The national debt is the total amount of outstanding borrowed money the federal government has accumulated over time.Every year the US spends more money than it earns results in an annual budget deficit.These deficits add up over time, creating a shortfall that the US covers, in part, by borrowing money from investors; otherwise, the government would need to cut services, increase revenues, or some combination. These loans — plus the interest owed — are the national debt.The national debt grows every year there’s a deficit, as the country borrows an increasing amount of money. The US has run a budget deficit every year for the last 20 years, during which time national debt has grown fivefold.
Aug 1, 2024Which countries own the most US debt?
The US government owes trillions of dollars in debt to foreign entities, including governments, central banks, companies, and individual investors.This debt includes US Treasury bonds and other securities, which are popular as they are considered safe investments.Many nations buy US Treasury securities (also called “Treasurys”) because they are considered one of the safest investment options available.How much US debt do foreign countries own?As of April 2024, foreign countries own approximately $7.9 trillion in Treasurys — or 22.9% of total US debt. Over the past two decades, central banks and other government entities have owned more than 50% of foreign-owned debt. Independent investors and companies held the rest.
Aug 1, 2024How has the federal budget changed over time?
US spending has fluctuated as the government managed the budgetary implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.In 2020, spending rose 45% (after adjusting for inflation) — the largest single-year increase since at least 1980. It dropped 21% from 2021 to 2023, but 2023 spending was still higher than before the pandemic.
Aug 1, 2024How much government money does Planned Parenthood receive?
The Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization overturned the constitutional right to abortion, leaving the legality of the procedure up to state legislatures. The ruling also placed a renewed focus on abortion providers throughout the US. Some providers have had to shut down operations while others find themselves overwhelmed with new patients traveling from other states where abortion has been recently restricted.One of the main abortion providers in the US is Planned Parenthood, a nonprofit that runs clinics focused on providing reproductive and sexual health services. While abortions are about 3% of the services it provides to patients, federal restrictions on government funding of abortion have placed scrutiny on their finances. But since Planned Parenthood provides myriad other sexual health services, they still get a significant amount of funding through Medicaid reimbursements and government grants.About 43% of Planned Parenthood revenues came from government reimbursements or grants in the 2014-2015 fiscal year. Out of the $1.29 billion in total revenue, $553.7 million came from the government reimbursing Planned Parenthood for providing medical services covered by programs such as Medicaid or from government grants from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The remainder of revenues mostly come from donations (27%) and patient fees (24%).
Aug 1, 2024How much money does the government appropriate to combat the opioid epidemic?
In recent years, Congress passed three laws authorizing the appropriation of $10.6 billion in spending to combat the opioid epidemic. The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), the 21st Century Cures Act, and the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act are estimated to increase mandatory opioid response spending by $2.5 billion.Congress plans to spend these funds from 2017 and 2028. This funding is for programs that reduce the supply of opioids, the demand for them, and the harm they cause. The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act represents 85% of this funding, almost $8.99 billion.
Aug 1, 2024How much of the federal budget is discretionary spending?
The US government spent $6.2 trillion in total in 2023, with $1.7 trillion on discretionary spending, $3.8 trillion on mandatory spending, and $659 billion on net interest. Discretionary spending includes funding for defense, education, transportation, and scientific research.What is discretionary spending?Federal spending can be categorized as either discretionary spending or mandatory spending.Discretionary spending requires action from Congress to continue. In other words, Congress must establish and regularly fund discretionary programs. Otherwise, they end.This funding process, called appropriations, involves Congress passing laws and the president signing them to authorize agencies to spend a fixed amount of money for specific purposes over a set period, typically one to three years. Once these funds run out, the department cannot spend more unless Congress approves additional funding.Federal outlays, which are expenses from budget authority, can occur over short periods (such as salaries) or long periods (such as research or construction projects). Discretionary outlays each year include funds from both current and previous appropriation acts.
Aug 1, 2024The federal budget: an overview
The federal budget is a measure of how much the federal government spends and how much revenue it takes in. Typically, annual budgetary data is broken up into fiscal years, which run from October 1 to September 30.In fiscal year 2023, the US spent $6.16 trillion on public programs and generated $4.47 trillion in revenue.What is the federal deficit?The federal government runs a deficit when it spends more than it takes in as revenue. In 2023, the annual federal deficit was $1.69 trillion. To fund deficits, the government borrows money by selling assets, and this borrowing creates debt.When the government takes in more than it spends, this is a budget surplus. This last happened in 2001. There’s been a deficit in each fiscal year since.What is federal debt?The national debt is the total amount that the federal government owes to investors who it has borrowed from. Effectively, it is a summation of all the federal deficits and surpluses over the country’s history, plus the interest accumulated on that debt over time.As of June 14, 2024, the national debt totaled $34.7 trillion.As a percentage of gross domestic product, the national debt has been historically high in recent years. In 2020, that ratio reached its highest point since 1946.
Aug 1, 2024How does the government support veterans?
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) spent over $266 billion in fiscal year 2022 — accounting for about 4.3% of all federal spending — on pay and pensions, healthcare, and education for the nation’s veterans.How does the Department of Veterans Affairs spend its budget?The majority of VA expenditures fund veterans’ compensation and pensions (50.5% of VA spending) and medical care services (38.9%).A veteran’s eligibility for pensions and compensation depends on factors such as their age, service, and disability status. More than 5.9 million veterans and their families received financial support from the disability compensation program in 2022, one of the VA’s most-accessed programs.The VA also provides veterans with free healthcare for conditions related to military service, for catastrophic disabilities, and for veterans with a disability rating of at least 50%. (The VA assigns veterans a numerical rating based on the severity of their service-connected disability; this rating determines their’ eligibility for benefits and the amount of their compensation.) The department also provides financial assistance to veterans who can’t afford to pay for healthcare. In 2022, the VA spent $104 billion on veterans’ medical care.Spending per patient varies depending on the veterans’ priority group, which triages patients based on the severity of their disability or medical condition and whether the condition is related to their service.
Aug 1, 2024What is this year’s Social Security cost of living increase?
Social security benefits typically increase year-over-year to keep up with the cost of living. The 2024 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be 3.2%, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA).How has the cost of living adjustments changed over time?The SSA’s Cost-of-Living Adjustments were relatively high from 1975 to 1982, and again in 2021 and 2022. Between 1975 and 2023 (the period for which the SSA has COLA data) there were only three years that had no adjustment: 2009, 2010, and 2015. The highest-ever adjustment was in 1980, at 14.3%.
Aug 1, 2024Can Medicare negotiate the price of prescription drugs?
The 2022 passing of the Inflation Reduction Act means that, for the first time, Medicare can negotiate the prices of some prescription drugs.Ten prescription drugs covered by the Medicare Part D benefit program are now subject to price negotiation. This program won’t affect prices until 2026 and will expand annually until 2029. Medicare can only negotiate on the price of drugs that have a high total cost to the federal government, don’t have a generic alternative, and were approved by the FDA for at least the last seven years.What’s included in Medicare Part D?People 65 and older and people with certain disabilities are eligible for Medicare, a federally sponsored health insurance program. The optional Medicare Part D provides prescription drug coverage for about 52 million Americans as of November 2023.Most people participating in Part D pay a small monthly premium and must pay an annual deductible before the Medicare drug benefit starts assisting with costs. How much the government assists on medication costs depends on a person’s income and the total cost of a person’s prescriptions, among other factors.Is spending on Medicare Part D drugs increasing?Part D spending depends on several things including enrollment numbers, according to the Congressional Budget Office.One contributing factor is the size and quantity of drug manufacturer price rebates. Rebates are payments that manufacturers make to Medicare; on average, rebates are equivalent to 47% of the total price for standard drugs and 12% of the price for more specialized, expensive medications.According to annual reports by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), per-enrollee spending on Medicare Part D prescription drugs has decreased in recent years, falling 14% from a recent peak in 2015 to 2022.
Aug 1, 2024How much does the US spend on the military?
In 2023, the US military spent approximately $820.3 billion, or roughly 13.3% of the entire federal budget for that fiscal year. In March 2023, the Department of Defense (DoD) requested $842.0 billion for 2024 — a 2.6% increase.With the world’s third-largest military, at nearly 1.3 million active-duty troops, the US estimates it spends more than any other nation on its national defense. Between 2014 and 2022, the US spent more than twice as much on defense as did all other NATO members, 30 nations in total.According to the 2022 National Defense Strategy, US military priorities include countering China’s military presence in the Indo-Pacific; deterring strategic attacks against the US and allies; defending against evolving threats like cyberattacks and addressing aggression from Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
Aug 1, 2024Who pays the most income tax?
The federal government generated $4.47 trillion in revenue in fiscal year 2023, nearly half of which came from taxing people on their incomes. Individual income taxes in FY 2023 totaled $2.18 trillion, or $6,499 per person.
Aug 1, 2024The national budget deficit was $1.7 trillion in fiscal year 2023
In fiscal year 2023, the federal government spent $6.13 trillion and raised $4.44 trillion, resulting in a $1.70 trillion deficit. The deficit grew by $320 billion from fiscal year 2022.What is a budget deficit?A budget deficit occurs when government spending exceeds revenue within a given fiscal year. In simpler terms, it’s when the government spends more than it collects in taxes and other revenue sources.
Aug 1, 2024How much of the federal budget is mandatory spending?
The federal government spent $6.2 trillion in fiscal year 2023 — $3.8 trillion of mandatory spending, $1.7 trillion of discretionary spending, and $659 billion in interest on outstanding US debt.What is mandatory spending?Federal spending is split into two categories: discretionary and mandatory. Mandatory spending does not require action every year, while discretionary spending does.Congress doesn't need to pass new laws each year for mandatory spending programs like Medicare and Social Security to operate; they continue automatically unless Congress changes the law. Sometimes, changes occur because Congress sets a timeline for modifications.The spending amount for mandatory programs is unpredictable at the start of the year. For instance, spending for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or food stamps) and unemployment insurance depends on how many people qualify and claim benefits, which is influenced by factors like inflation, economic growth, and demographics.There's no spending cap on these programs, which reduces Congress and the president's flexibility in setting spending and policy priorities.
Aug 1, 2024How does US foreign aid work and where does it go?
Each year, Congress appropriates foreign assistance based on national security, commercial, and humanitarian interests. This aid is then distributed to foreign governments, international agencies, such as the United Nations or World Health Organization, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), such as Save the Children and the International Rescue Committee.These entities use foreign aid to carry out projects targeting specific goals, such as poverty reduction, humanitarian support, military assistance, and educational services. Foreign aid comes in multiple forms, including funds, goods, services, and technical assistance.How much foreign aid does the US give?The US has given out over $3.8 trillion in foreign aid (adjusted for inflation) since the end of World War II.US foreign aid has varied over time due to various geopolitical circumstances, economic conditions, and national priorities. At its height in 1949, US foreign aid totaled nearly $100 billion, while it bottomed out at just under $25 billion in 1997, both after adjusting for inflation.Between 1946 and 2022, the US has spent an average of $51.0 billion each year.
Aug 1, 2024How much money does the government collect per person?
The US collected $5.03 trillion in federal revenues in 2022, up $630 billion from the previous year, after adjusting for inflation.That equates to $15,098 collected per person, up 14% from 2021. Most revenues came from individual income tax, at $7,898 per person on average, and payroll taxes, at $4,510 per person on average.Using data from the State of the Union in Numbers, this chart visualizes how revenues have grown over the past two years.
Aug 1, 2024How much revenue does the federal government collect?
The federal government collected $4.47 trillion in revenue during the 2023 fiscal year. That’s a lot (10 zeros to be exact) but it also represents a decrease of 15.5%, a drop from the 14.3% increase we saw between 2021 and 2022.
Aug 1, 2024How much does the US spend on the Space Force?
On December 20, 2019, the United States Space Force (USSF) became the sixth branch of the US military with the passing of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020. It was the first new branch since the US Air Force was established in 1947.Nine months later, on September 1, 2020, the Space Force inducted its first class of deployed Guardians, as they are called. Twenty members of the US Air Force trained in space operations and other core space career fields transferred to the new branch, making them the first Space Force members engaged in support of combat operations.What does the Space Force do?Housed within the Air Force, Space Force operates as its own department with its own duties. They are: to protect the interests of the United States in space; to deter aggression in, from, and to space; and to conduct space operations in service of America’s national security.Just as the US Navy protects the country at sea, space is its own domain. This includes civilian, commercial, and military activity — think civilian space travel and exploration, commercial satellite technology, and cyber warfare. The Space Force is charged with protecting and defending American military capabilities and economic interests in the space realm.The Space Force is differentiated from NASA, which is the United States’ civilian space agency. NASA astronauts and scientists are dedicated to space exploration and scientific discovery. There is crossover between the military and NASA, however. Many NASA employees are veterans. For example, NASA’s first class of astronauts, the Mercury 7, were all military test pilots.Where does the Space Force spend its budget?The five-year plan for establishing the Space Force includes creating a headquarters within the Pentagon (fiscal year 2020), transferring select missions and units to the USSF (FY 2021–2022), and eventually developing new ways to organize, train, and equip its forces (2023–2024).In 2020, funding went towards the operation to establish its headquarters. This ramp up period allowed the USSF to establish the necessary “policies, procedures, and systems to operate.”In 2021, funding expanded with the transfer of missions, forces, and programs that had been planned to begin one year after its establishment. This year’s budget included procurement as well as research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E), which constituted 67% of the total budget proposal. The 2024 budget request is similarly allocated with 64% of the Space Force budget covering RDT&E.Since the Defense Department has identified China and Russia as looming threats to US space capabilities, the department plans to focus next year’s efforts on building “resilient, ready, combat-credible space forces” by “accelerating the pivot towards resilient satellite constellations, ground stations, networks and data links,” Saltzman said.The Space Force budget continues to increase. In 2020, it received $40 million for establishing operations. In 2021, as the branch became fully operational, it received $15.4 billion in total funding. Two years later, this amount was nearly doubled at $26.3 billion.
Aug 1, 2024Which states rely the most on federal aid?
In 2021, the US government provided nearly $1.3 trillion to state and local governments through federal grants. These grants made up a fifth of states’ total revenues, funding healthcare, education, social services, infrastructure, and public safety programs.Overall, federal aid to state and local governments has risen by over $400 billion since 2019 because of COVID-19's burden on healthcare and social programs.Though Office of Management and Budget data shows that while federal grants increased annually from 2013 to 2021, they fell in 2022 (when adjusted for inflation).Which states received the most money from the federal government?Federal funding comes through several overlapping programs targeting state and local governments. The proportion of state revenues attributable to federal aid is determined by combining the funding received by both state and local institutions.The five states that received the most federal aid were:California ($162.9 billion)New York ($110.2 billion)Texas ($105.8 billion)Florida ($58.8 billion)Pennsylvania ($57.1 billion)These figures largely correlate with population. To interpret state reliance on the federal government more accurately, we can look at total aid as a percentage of annual state revenues.
Aug 1, 2024Everything you need to know about a government shutdown
A shutdown of the United States government affects people, government agencies, and businesses not just here, but worldwide.Here are the answers to some of Americans’ most-asked questions about a government shutdown:What is a government shutdown?A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass or the president refuses to sign a spending bill to fund the federal government’s operations. This results in a funding gap that can cause several government functions to be temporarily disrupted. Government shutdowns are often resolved by Congress passing continuing resolutions, which provide short-term funding while negotiations for a long-term solution continue. Every shutdown since 1990 has been ended with a continuing resolution.Because the federal government’s fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30, many shutdowns occur in September and October.
Aug 1, 2024Which states ban the abortion pill?
On June 13, 2024, in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, the US Supreme Court unanimously reversed a lower court decision suspending the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone, a medication used to end pregnancies in the first trimester and treat early miscarriages. The ruling allows healthcare providers to continue distributing the medication without added restrictions.As of June 2024, 14 states have near-total bans on mifepristone. The other 36 states and Washington, DC, provide some form of legal access to the abortion medication.
Jul 15, 2024How much does the average American family pay in taxes?
One of the simplest ways to think about the US standard of living is to consider how much people earn in income, pay in taxes, and receive in government transfers. A government transfer can be cash, or non-cash in the form of services like Medicaid and Medicare.In 2021, the average American family in the middle 20% of income earners paid $17,902 in taxes to federal, state, and local governments. This includes direct taxes, such as income taxes, as well as indirect taxes, like payroll taxes. Of all the taxes the middle 20% paid in 2021, $10,391 went to federal income tax.
Mar 7, 2024How much do states spend on prisoners?
States incarcerated more than 1 million people at the end of 2021, according to Bureau of Justice Statistics data. To house them, state governments spent a combined $64.0 billion (inflation-adjusted). Spending per prisoner varies more than tenfold across states, from just under $23,000 per person in Arkansas to $307,468 in Massachusetts. Spending in Massachusetts was more than double any other state; the median state spent $64,865 per prisoner for the year.
Apr 17, 2024What does the Department of Labor do?
The Department of Labor (DOL) is an executive branch agency responsible for overseeing the American labor force and working conditions. Its functions include enforcing wage and hour standards and union law, regulating workplace safety, administering unemployment benefits and workers’ compensation, collecting labor market data, and promoting workforce development. It was established in 1913.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission do?
The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) is an independent federal agency responsible for resolving disputes between the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (a sub-agency of the Department of Labor) and employers over workplace safety and health citations. It serves as a neutral arbiter, providing administrative trials and appellate reviews to ensure fair outcomes under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. It was established in 1970.
Updates annuallyUSAFacts discusses facts on Capitol Hill
On Tuesday July 16th, 2019, USAFacts went to Washington DC to discuss facts on Capitol Hill.Our Founder, Steve Ballmer, held five meetings throughout the day with around 200 members of Congress, including Democrats and Republicans from both the House and Senate.These bipartisan and bicameral meetings focused on the numbers behind taxes, government spending, outcomes in areas including health, education, security, sustainability, demographic shifts, and what life looks like for taxpayers across different income groups and family types.The deep, data-driven conversations resulted in discussions among lawmakers about trends, potential improvements to government data, and insightful questions that USAFacts is working to answer.Along with copies of the 2019 Annual Report, Steve delivered the below presentation:
Dec 5, 2019What do the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) mean for small businesses?
Of the $2 trillion distributed in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES Act), $350 billion is dedicated to providing relief to small businesses, defined as having under 500 employees.The $350 billion will be deployed through the Paycheck Protection Program, which allows small businesses to borrow up to 250% of their average monthly payroll expenses, up to a maximum loan amount of $10 million. The loans are intended to cover eight weeks of payroll expenses and additional payments toward debt, and will only cover employee compensation up to $100,000 per employee. Money from that loan paid toward payroll and existing interest payments on mortgages, rent payments, leases, and utility service agreements will be forgiven—i.e., will not need to be paid back (more information on the Paycheck Protection Program here). Small businesses can apply through most banks to receive a loan. The Senate is currently debating an additional $250 billion in support for the Paycheck Protection Program.
Sep 23, 2020'Sin taxes' by state: Where do people pay the most and least in alcohol and tobacco taxes?
Drinking and smoking are two more ways that Americans pay taxes.Every state and Washington, DC, has selective sales taxes on alcohol and tobacco. And like sales tax, alcohol and tobacco taxes are paid by people who buy those items.USAFacts looked at data from the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis to determine where people pay the most in tobacco and alcohol taxes, as a percentage of their per capita personal income in that state. (You can read our full report on Americans’ tax burdens here.)It's important to note that the numbers below are based not just on the excise or sales tax rates in that state, but also on the population size and how much is purchased per person. So, for example, tobacco excise taxes range from 17 cents per pack in Missouri, to $4.35 per pack in Connecticut and New York, according to 2022 CDC data. And alcohol taxes can be either excise taxes (based on volume of alcohol sold at the wholesale level) or sales taxes (on the retail price of alcohol).Where do people pay the most and least in alcohol tax?
May 10, 2023What is the Supreme Court shadow docket?
For a case to appear before the Supreme Court, it must land on one of two lists, or dockets: the merits docket or the emergency docket, also known as the “shadow docket.” Each docket contains a set of cases for which the justices can issue rulings. Each docket has its own process for reaching those decisions.The shadow docket process is a faster route to a decision. Part of its purpose is enabling the high court to quickly resolve administrative-type requests from lower courts, such as extensions of time to file petitions for writs of certiorari (Parties unsatisfied with how a lower court has ruled on their case might ask the Supreme Court to grant a writ of certiorari, which is a request that the Supreme Court officially hear their case).But it is also less transparent, and recent shadow docket cases reflect a notable shift in the nature of topics appearing on that docket since 2017. They have involved border wall disputes, COVID-19 restrictions, abortion laws, and federal executions.This shift has also caused confusion for lower courts, which follow the precedent set by the Supreme Court, because unlike the merits docket, the shadow docket process does not require written or dissenting opinions.The merits docket vs. shadow docketThe Supreme Court is asked to review more than 7,000 cases each year and accepts 100 to 150 of them. Cases on the Supreme Court’s merits docket entail a scheduled and public hearing, a review of legal briefs, and oral arguments. After what is often a months-long process, the court provides its opinion and dissenting arguments in writing. This merits docket route is how the Supreme Court processes and delivers big decisions like Brown v. Board of Education or the recent Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College.Alternatively, the shadow docket functions as an accelerated route for the Supreme Court to reach decisions and has been used mostly for administrative decisions.“These cases are brought to the court by a state, or a company, or a person who has lost in the lower courts, often at an early stage, and that loser is now asking the Supreme Court to block the lower court order while the case proceeds through the lower court appeals process, which typically takes many months,” said legal scholar Stephen Vladeck in a testimony at a 2021 hearing before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.The shadow docket also allows the court to issue opinions without the level of transparency demanded by the merits docket process. Shadow docket case opinions, court orders, and changes in stays and injunctions have been issued in the middle of the night; they’ve been issued without disclosing which justices weighed in; and they’ve been issued without a written reasoning of the ruling. Each of these elements are departures from the Supreme Court’s merits docket proceedings.How does the shadow docket impact lower courts?The extended, transparent, and more rigorous process required of cases on the merits docket serves in part to let the public in on the reasoning behind a ruling and to strengthen public trust in the judicial system.Further, it sets a precedent for lower courts to follow in their proceedings. When shadow docket rulings are issued without explanation, lower courts have less clarity on how they should proceed in similar cases.Learn more about the Supreme Court and the nation's judicial system and get explainers like this in your inbox by subscribing to our weekly newsletter.
Jul 20, 2023What does the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives do?
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is a subdivision of the US Department of Justice responsible for enforcing federal laws related to the regulation of alcohol, tobacco, firearms, explosives, and arson. The agency's primary mission is to protect communities from violent criminals, criminal organizations, the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, the illegal use and storage of explosives, acts of arson and bombings, acts of terrorism, and the illegal diversion of alcohol and tobacco products. It was established in 1972.
Updates annuallyWhat does the United States Mint do?
The United States Mint (US Mint) is a subdivision of the Department of the Treasury responsible for producing coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce. The agency designs and manufactures domestic, bullion, and foreign coins, as well as Congressional Gold Medals and silver, gold, and platinum bullion coins. It also maintains physical custody and protection of the nation's gold and silver assets. It was established in 1792.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Forest Service do?
The Forest Service (FS) is a subdivision of the US Department of Agriculture responsible for managing public lands in national forests and grasslands. The agency's mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of these lands to meet the needs of present and future generations. It provides leadership in the protection, management, and use of the nation's forest resources, ensuring their long-term sustainability. It was established in 1905.
Updates annuallyWhat does the Office of Management and Budget do?
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is a subdivision of The Executive Office of the President responsible for assisting the President in overseeing the preparation of the federal budget and supervising its administration in Executive Branch agencies. The OMB evaluates the effectiveness of agency programs, policies, and procedures, assesses competing funding demands among agencies, and sets funding priorities. It also ensures that agency reports, rules, testimony, and proposed legislation are consistent with the President's budget and administration policies. It was established in 1970.
Updates annually