Here’s how the government spent $6.8T last year (From “USA Facts” article) The federal government spent $6.8 trillion in fiscal year 2024. We’ll say that again. $6,800,000,000,000. We’re not saying that’s good or bad, too much or too little. But we can agree that that scale is hard to fathom, right? Our new agency spending chart makes 2024 spending for the executive, legislative, and judicial branches easier to understand. We even tracked the president’s budget, independent agencies such as NASA, and entities that get federal money but don’t slot neatly into other categories (think the Smithsonian). A few insights: The Department of Health and Human Services spent $1.7 trillion in 2024. That was about 25.4% of federal expenditures, primarily driven by the $1.5 trillion in spending by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.  The Social Security Administration accounted for the biggest share of independent agency spending: $1.5 trillion. Federal Student Aid accounted for 2.4% of federal spending, totaling $161.0 billion. The National Parks Service spent just under $4.5 billion, for 0.07% of federal spending. Congress runs the botanic garden adjacent to the Capitol Building. The garden accounted for $19.0 million in legislative branch spending.  |
