America in Facts 2026
About the report
America in Facts 2026: A Data-Driven Report for Congress uses nonpartisan government data to inform critical policy debates of particular interest to the 119th Congress, including immigration enforcement, the Federal Reserve, and healthcare affordability, among others.
Most of these chapters are briefs we prepared and delivered directly to congressional offices throughout the year on timely topics, presented here as delivered. A few chapters, including federal finances and population, were developed separately to provide foundational context for the report.
Explore what we shared with Congress below or download the report.
Federal finances
President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law in July 2025, extending major tax provisions scheduled to expire and making changes to Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and student loan programs. Major policies like these impact how much the federal government spends, now and in the future. This chapter provides data on revenue sources, mandatory and discretionary spending, the deficit, and the national debt to describe the current state of federal finances.
Population
This chapter summarizes current population trends in the US, including overall growth, demographic composition, and rates of births, deaths, and migration. The country added 1.8 million people in 2025 to reach 341.8 million, and 71% of that increase came from net migration. Meanwhile, the birth rate fell for a fourth straight year to its lowest point since at least 1980, and the share of Americans 65 and older has risen for each of the last 20 years. Trends like these inform many of the major decisions Congress makes about Social Security, Medicare, immigration, and federal spending.
Immigration enforcement
ICE deported 320,000 people in fiscal year 2025, an 18% increase over the prior year. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act directed an additional $178 billion to the Department of Homeland Security over four years, funding more agents and detention beds and cementing immigration as a priority of the administration. This chapter follows the latest available data on enforcement at the border, in the interior, and in the courts.
The Federal Reserve
The transition to a new Federal Reserve chair in 2026 renewed questions about the Fed's role, how it functions, and its impact on the economy, prices, and the workforce. After raising interest rates to slow post-pandemic inflation, the Fed began easing in 2025, lowering the federal funds target rate three times to a range of 3.5%–3.75% and expanding its balance sheet again in December. This chapter explains what the Fed does, the tools it uses to carry out monetary policy, and the conditions guiding its decisions.
Healthcare affordability
Individual out-of-pocket spending on healthcare and government spending on programs like Medicare and Medicaid were higher in 2024 than they’ve ever been. How to make healthcare more affordable, and whether to prioritize reducing costs for individuals or the government, was at the center of policy discussions such as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the 2025 government shutdown. This chapter highlights spending on healthcare by different payers and enrollment in health programs as the trends to watch while debates over healthcare affordability continue.
Household electricity affordability
As of early 2026, household electricity was more expensive per kilowatt hour than it had been in at least 25 years, and the typical energy bill has risen for 16 consecutive months. Federal actions to address electricity costs include a national emergency declaration in 2025, faster permitting for energy projects, and changes to clean energy tax credits under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This chapter explores household costs, the energy supply, and shifts in energy demand over time — particularly the increasing demands from electric vehicles and data centers.
