The federal government has spent more money annually than it has collected every year since 2022

The federal deficit is the gap between what the US spends and what it collects

This US Treasury page explains how the federal deficit occurs when annual spending exceeds revenue, shows the current fiscal-year shortfall, and tracks how deficits rise and fall with economic conditions and policy choices.

The national debt is growing at a faster rate than the economy

“The federal government faces an unsustainable fiscal future,” according to this bleak 2025 report on the nation’s budget from the US Government Accountability Office. If unaddressed, the country’s debt could double its gross domestic product, warns the nonpartisan agency. For individuals, this may mean stagnant wages, higher borrowing costs, and more expensive goods.

How much the federal government pays in interest on the debt

A significant portion of annual funding goes to servicing the federal government's public debt, which stood at $36T in 2025. That amount required roughly $1T in interest payments just for the year.

Many local governments also struggle to rein in their spending

The federal government isn’t the only one that holds debt. State and local governments borrow money to cover budget gaps, too.

The US has carried debt since 1791

After the Revolutionary War, the US owed $75M to nations like France. Debt builds when spending exceeds revenue, funding programs, wars, and economic recovery efforts. Most debt is domestic, like Social Security bonds, with foreign nations also holding a share.

Individual income taxes are the federal government's primary revenue source, see a tracker that breaks down where the rest of the budget comes from

The US government historically makes nearly half of its total revenue last year from individual income taxes. But the US makes also makes money from a variety of other sources, including Medicare taxes and corporate income taxes. However, the federal government has run a deficit since 2001—reaching a peak of $3.13T in 2020.

The US national debt has become more important in recent months

In a moment of deep economic uncertainty, the national debt now matters more than ever. Listen to this podcast to find out why and also explore answers to questions like, "Who does the US owe money to and why?"

About one dollar in every six that are owed to the federal government aren't paid each year

That adds up to close to $1T in what's known as the "tax gap." Read a breakdown on the main drivers of tax evasion (distinct from legal tax avoidance) in the US.

Visualize government spending with USAFacts

This resource turns complex federal budget data into clear charts and summaries, letting users explore how much the government spends; where the money goes; and how revenue, deficits, and debt change over time.

The debt ceiling is a legal cap on how much money the US government can borrow

Set by Congress, the debt ceiling limits total federal borrowing. This guide explains why the cap was created, how it has evolved, and why raising or suspending it has become a recurring political flash point.

The Department of Justice spent $44B in 2024

In fiscal year 2024, the Department of Justice spent approximately $44B—making it the 14th-largest federal agency by total spending. Its budget funds law enforcement activities, prosecutions, prisons, and grants to state and local justice initiatives.

The federal budget process begins nearly a year before funds are spent

Creating the federal budget starts months in advance. This resource explains each stage, showing how the president proposes priorities, Congress reshapes and approves funding, and federal agencies implement the final budget.

In 2020, government entities spent $316.5B on infrastructure, with state and local governments accounting for 34.8% of that amount.

Roughly 43 million US borrowers owe roughly $1.7T in student debt, the second-largest source of consumer debt behind mortgages.

The Constitution gives Congress sweeping control over the federal budget

Article I, Section 8's Spending Clause authorizes Congress to tax, pay debts, and promote the "common Defence and general Welfare," making it one of Congress's most powerful tools—and the constitutional foundation of federal budget control.

Calculate how much of your tax dollars go to each federal program based on your income, filing status, and number of children

Nearly half of the discretionary funding in the US is allocated to national defense

The US accounts for roughly 35% of global military spending, with defense taking up nearly half of discretionary funds. In this discussion, Michael E. O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institution explains why these levels are so high—and how they compare historically.

US public K-12 spending topped $857B in 2024

Public K-12 schools spent around $857B in 2024, averaging $17,277 per student. State and local sources shouldered nearly 90% of costs, and federal funds provided about $2,400 per pupil.

The USPS spent $3.97B in 2024, accounting for .058% of the federal budget.

The US government has shut down 22 times since 1976

This resource breaks down every federal shutdown since 1976, showing how long each lasted and the budget disputes that caused them—revealing how routine funding failures have become in modern US politics.

The federal government pumped $70 billion into transit amidst reduced ridership during the COVID pandemic

When ridership collapsed by 75% in the spring of 2020, Congress sent transit agencies nearly $70B to help them survive. But that money has largely run out, and ridership remains 14-28% below prepandemic levels, leaving many transit systems with large budget deficits.

College majors ranked by median resulting student debt

As of 2023, student loans were the third-largest category of US household debt at $1.6T. But not all student debt is created equal. Statistically, some majors incur more debt than others. Behavioral science majors, for instance, had the highest median student debt as of 2022.

Visualizing how Americans spend their money

Almost half of all American consumer spending goes toward transportation and housing, at least according to 2023 data from the Consumer Expenditures Survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The survey found that the average American spends roughly $25K per year on housing. This colorful pie chart helps visualize shows how the average American spends their annual earnings—click here to see it.

Roughly 68.5 million Americans were enrolled in Social Security benefits in December 2024

That amounted to nearly 90% of people ages 65 and older. The federal government spent $1.5T on Social Security in fiscal year 2024 (nearly a quarter of the total federal budget). This article details how these figures contribute to the perception that Social Security is “running out.”

DOGE's claim of saving more than $64B lacks evidence

In the first month of President Donald Trump’s second term, his new Department of Government Efficiency celebrated slashing billions in federal spending and chopping away at the national debt. An article from the Poynter Institute’s fact-checking website digs into the numbers to investigate these claims.

In 2024, Americans bought over $7B of cut flowers

That's more than any other country in the world. Most of the flowers Americans purchase are imported, creating an economy that's both booming and reliant on dwindling natural resources.

Foodborne illnesses cost our country an estimated $74.7 billion in 2023

A US government estimate puts the cost of all foodborne illness in 2023 at almost $75 billion dollars. In a report published by the US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, government analysts detailed how the burden of foodborne illness includes medical costs, but also more hidden costs like lost wages. The analysis also breaks down estimated costs by pathogen.

College football generates over $11B annually—but many programs run at a loss

Despite total revenues surpassing $11.5B in 2024, college football’s high operating costs—$14.5B in the same year—mean only a handful of top programs turn large profits, while most run at a loss.

The US dollar is the most widely circulated currency in the world, and is involved in nearly 90% of global transactions

The United States is one of only around two dozen countries with a fully federal system of government, in which power is divided between national and state governments.

Before the current East Wing ballroom project, only two White House renovations in the past 100 years cost more than $10M.

The American Society of Civil Engineers' infrastructure report card gave the US a C in 2025, its highest grade since the project launched in 1998.

The price of gas is a composite made up of several different factors, with the federal gas tax making up less than 20% of what drivers pay at the pump.

The power and influence of the American presidency have expanded significantly over time—far beyond what the founders envisioned.

Fireworks-related ER visits are on the rise—in 2024, they increased by 52% as compared to the prior year.

See a ranking of the best (and worst) Federal Reserve Chairs since 1914 out of the 16 men and women who have held the office since.

About 2,000 US babies are born annually without some portion of their limbs, potentially leading to a lifetime of pricey prosthetics.

The most expensive ad of all time was for Chanel No. 5 perfume and cost roughly $33M to produce in 2004—about $57M in today's dollars.

Discover the catastrophic consequences of a failure of the US electrical grid—something that is more likely than many Americans think.

Hedge funds, the private investment firms that trade a wide swath of financial assets, make money by imposing steep fees on investors and from the fund's investment performance.

Art theft is the third-largest source of criminal revenues worldwide, thanks in part to the subjective nature of valuing a work of art.

Experimental hantavirus vaccines and therapies, still under development, have long been funded by the US military.

Most of the observable universe's volume consists of voids and supervoids—enormous regions of space with little to no galaxies, stars, or light.

The original copy of the Declaration of Independence is not a pristine document, and even features a smudged anonymous handprint in the bottom left corner.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict is the largest ground war in Europe since World War II in casualties, forces mobilized, and displacement of civilians.

For centuries, Niagara Falls has been a magnet for daredevils seeking to conquer one of nature's most powerful wonders, with its 200-foot drop and water rushing at 32 feet per second with 280 tons of force.

A century of Billboard issues documenting the evolution of popular music.

Researchers believe the brain consolidates memories, processes emotions, and plans for the future during dream states

Some researchers have labeled nomophobia, the fear of being without your phone, as 'the phobia of the 21st century.'

While El Niño moves warm Pacific Ocean waters east along the equator, La Niña moves them west, shifting where rainfall will become more common for months.