Government spending articles
How much US government debt is owned by other countries?
As of June 2025, about 25.2% of US government debt, or $9.13 trillion, is owned by other countries. When the federal government spends more money than it collects in revenue, it sells US Treasury securities to bring in cash and pay for the difference. People, governments, corporations, and investment funds like retirement accounts — both US and international — can purchase these.
Breaking down government finances: federal, state, and local
In this episode of Just the Facts, Steve Ballmer breaks down how government responsibilities and spending are divided across federal, state, and local governments in the United States, using official government data. With nearly 91,000 government entities nationwide, understanding who does what — and who pays for it — is more complicated than it might seem.
How big is the US national debt?
In this episode of Just the Facts, Steve Ballmer breaks down the data behind America’s national debt using official U.S. government sources. The US national debt now exceeds $38 trillion, the highest level in history. But that number alone doesn’t explain what the debt is, how it grew, or what it means for the economy.
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.
Minnesota and Medicaid: What the data says
On February 25, the Trump Administration announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would be freezing $259.5 million earmarked for Medicaid in Minnesota while it investigates allegations of fraud in the state.This is the latest in a series of federal funding suspensions for Minnesota, including funds from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Agriculture. Courts have temporarily blocked the previous attempts to freeze funding.Let's break down the data on Medicaid in Minnesota and what this news might mean for the program.How much does the federal government contribute to Medicaid in Minnesota?Medicaid is a program that provides health insurance for people with low incomes. It is jointly funded by the states and the federal government. In fiscal year 2023, the federal government covered 68.9% of the overall program costs, while states covered the remaining 31.1%. The Minnesota state budget covered 36.6% of Medicaid costs, the fifth highest share of any state.
Where are US troops stationed?
The US has a strong military presence both domestically and overseas, with 1.3 million active-duty service members stationed at home or abroad. In addition to millions of troops, the Department of Defense manages 568,000 facilities, covering 27 million acres, across 4,790 military sites worldwide. The US military is tasked with training troops and defending US citizens on American soil, as well as protecting its national security interests by defending strategic supply chains, deterring attacks and future aggression, and participating in bilateral, regional, and multilateral defense programs.
Voter lists: what are they?
Beginning in July 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) sent requests to several states seeking copies of their voter registration lists and related records. The DOJ said the requests were intended to review voter records and assess whether states are complying with federal requirements to keep voter rolls accurate and up-to-date. Some states have declined to provide the full voter data with the DOJ. In public statements, state officials cited concerns about sharing residents’ personal identifying information and have argued that state and local election officials already maintain voter records effectively. While all states have laws that allow releasing voter lists with limited personal information, the DOJ’s request is for full lists, including private information. From September 2025 to February 2026, the DOJ has filed lawsuits against 29 states and Washington, DC, that have not complied: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
How many disasters are declared in the US?
On average, 125 disasters are declared per year. This figure is based on the most recent five full years of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) data.
How much does the US federal government spend?
About $7.05 trillion in fiscal year (FY) 2025. This averages about $20,600 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.
How many civilian jobs are in the US federal government?
About 2.69 million, as of January 2026. 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 158.6 million nonfarm jobs in the US, 1.7% 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 60 jobs.
How much debt does the US have?
About $38.5 trillion as of January 2026. 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.
What is infrastructure and what does the government have to do with it?
The federal government has a long history of investing in infrastructure — facilities, structures, and utilities intended for long-term use —at least as far back as 1806 when Congress authorized the construction of the first highway built entirely with federal money. In the decades since, federal, state, and local governments have spent trillions of dollars on the networks and facilities the country needs to function. Infrastructure includes transportation systems such as bridges, highways, and railways, as well as energy assets like power plants and electric grids. It can also include drinking water and wastewater systems, broadband access, and public buildings like schools. Funding for building and maintaining it comes from the government, the private sector, or a combination.How much does the US spend on infrastructure annually? In 2020, government at all levels, and the private sector spent a combined $865 billion on infrastructure, the highest sum since infrastructure spending tracking began in 1947. The federal government spent $15.9 billion, or 1.8% of all infrastructure spending. State and local governments spent $300.6 billion, 34.8% of the total. The remaining 63.4% of funding came from the private sector.
How do voting laws differ by state?
For many of us, “voting” conjures an image of people going to a ballot box on Election Day, but the way voters submit ballots varies from state to state. Some have in-person voting, others have mail-in ballots. Some states allow early voting, and others have day-of voting only.While the Constitution and Congress establish certain election rules, most elections are run by counties, so state and local governments also create their own voting laws.What are the voter registration methods and timelines in each state?Most states provide at least two of three registration options: online registration, mail-in registration, and in-person registration. The requirements and timelines for each vary by state. One state, North Dakota, doesn’t require voter registration at all. Twenty-one states and Washington, DC, allow same-day in-person registration. Two of these states — Hawaii and Vermont — allow same-day online registration as well. Vermont is also the only state that accepts mail-in registrations received by or on Election Day. The other 28 states require would-be voters to register anywhere from one to 30+ days in advance.
How much does the federal government spend on SNAP every year?
About $101.7 billion during fiscal year (FY) 2025. That’s 1.4% of all federal spending. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), once known as the Food Stamp program, is administered by the Department of Agriculture providing food assistance to low-income people.
How many people receive SNAP benefits in the US every month?
About 42.1 million people during fiscal year (FY) 2025. That’s 12.3% of the US population. Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is determined based on household income levels. SNAP, once known as the Food Stamp program, is administered by the Department of Agriculture providing food assistance to low-income individuals.
How much money does the US federal government collect?
About $5.26 trillion in fiscal year (FY) 2025. This is about $15,400 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.
How much is spent per Medicaid enrollee in the US?
In fiscal year (FY) 2023, $9,109 per enrollee. That's 1% lower than in FY 2022. Adjusted for inflation, Medicaid spending per enrollee is at its lowest level since 1994. Spending primarily covers benefits, but administrative costs are also included.
How 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.
How much does the US spend on defense?
About $873.5 billion in fiscal year 2024. 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.
How are public schools in the US funded?
Primarily from state and local governments. In the 2021–2022 school year, the most recent year of available data, about 44.1% of public school funding came from state sources like income and retail taxes, and another 42.2% came from local sources like property taxes. The federal government provided the remaining 13.7%, often through programs like Title I or IDEA that are aimed at supporting specific student needs. Altogether, public schools received $909.2 billion in funding, or $18,500 per student.