Government spending in one handy chart

March 4, 2025

Government spending in one handy chart

At USAFacts, we believe that American taxpayers — the shareholders responsible for providing most government funding — are entitled to information on how the federal government and its budget operate. Every year, the federal government brings in and spends trillions of dollars.

We’ve spent weeks combing through spreadsheets to help you track where that money goes.

This new, searchable visualization displays government revenue from taxes and other sources, totaling $4.9 trillion for fiscal year 2024 and the $6.8 trillion the government spent.

This chart even allows you to see spending data on specific federal agencies and programs. For example, type “Department of Labor” into the search bar at the top right of the visualization, and you’ll see the department spent $66.2 billion in FY 2024.

Dive in to start exploring!

How does the federal government fund public education?

Class is in session, and today’s topic is budgets. Public K-12 schools rely primarily on local and state funding, while the federal government provides the rest. Federal funds support special education, child nutrition, and free preschool for low-income families, among other programs. Here’s a snapshot of how the federal government funds public schools nationwide.

In the 2021–22 school year, about 13.7% of public school funding came from federal sources. However, the funding share ranges from 0% to 75%, depending on the district. How much each school receives is based on factors including poverty levels, state and local revenues, and whether a district is urban, suburban, or rural.
Several federal departments and agencies provide education funding, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Agriculture Department. The Education Department accounted for 46.4% of all K-12 funding in 2022.

In FY 2022, child nutrition programs received the largest share of federal K-12 funding (27.9%), followed by education for disadvantaged students (19.0%) and special education programs (15.1%).
Funding also varies by state. In 2021–22, Mississippi received the highest share of federal education funding (23.2%). New York had the lowest share at 7.3%.
About 17,100 school districts and local education agencies received federal funding in the 2021–22 school year. Among the 20 largest school districts, Houston Independent School District had the highest share of federal funding (23.2%). In contrast, New York City’s Department of Education had the lowest (6.6%).

Study the data

Which states have the highest and lowest marriage rates?

Marriage brings us together, but the length of a marriage depends on where you live, according to the Census Bureau. Federal agencies use marriage and divorce data to assess funding for programs with spousal benefits, measure the effectiveness of current family policies, and forecast future policies. But how do marriage rates vary by state?

Percentage of people 15 and older who have been married

Washington, DC, had the nation’s highest marriage rate in 2023 with 22.5 marriages per every 1,000 women. Among states, Utah ranked first at 21.9, followed by Alaska with 20.9.
Vermont had the lowest divorce rate, with 4.4 divorces per 1,000 marriages. As of 2023, marriages lasted the longest in Vermont (23.1), Wisconsin (22.7), and New Hampshire (22.6).
You might have noticed a trend with Vermont—marriage lengths correlate with a population’s average age. Vermont’s population is the nation’s third-oldest, with a median age of 43.4.
Idaho has the largest proportion of residents who have ever married, at 71.6%, while New York has the lowest, at 61.4%.
Marriage rates tend to be higher in states with younger populations. Idaho’s median age is 37.6 (lower than New York’s 40.1), yet it has one of the highest proportions of married residents.
USAFacts has even more marriage data! Click here to see the newly updated metrics on marriage and divorce by gender and ethnicity.

See marriage facts

Data behind the news

Before President Donald Trump’s Join Address to Congress on March 4, join the USAFacts Q&A livestream! We’ll discuss facts and trends concerning immigration, the federal budget, and much more. See you on March 3 on TikTok, X, and YouTube!

Last week, the IRS began letting go of thousands of workers, though the agency has not specified an exact number. This article from our archives details how 2022’s Inflation Reduction Act doubled the agency’s employees and expanded its auditing ability.

Do you have what it takes to ace the weekly fact quiz?

One last fact

Which generation volunteers the most? In 2023, Gen X (people born 1965 to 1980) led formal volunteering, such as supporting food banks and public health efforts. Baby Boomers (1946 to 1964) were most likely to help their neighbors informally.

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2024-25 OnFocus Central Wisconsin Area Conferences: Conference and Team Links, Schedules

Know some top athletic performances? Seeing some great teams in action?

We can use your help, and it’s simple. Witness some great performances? Hear about top athletes and top teams in our area?

Athlete of the Week and Team of the Week:

Nominate an athlete or team: HERE

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Pancakes or Waffles! We feature top area athletes with our world-renowned feature. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE

College Athlete Roundup! We want to recognize student-athletes from the area who are competing at the college level. Send us information on college athletes from the area with our simple form HERE

Where are they Now? We feature athletes and difference makers from the past, standouts in sports who excelled over the years and have moved on. Know of a former athlete, coach, or difference maker who we should feature? Know of a former standout competitor whose journey beyond central Wisconsin sports is one we should share? Send us information on athletes and difference makers of the past with our simple form HERE

Baked or Fried! We also feature difference makers throughout central Wisconsin: coaches, booster club leaders, administration, volunteers, you name it. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE

We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected]!