US federal budgetOctober 2015 to September 2016
Federal spending in 2016
The federal government spent $3.85 trillion in FY2016 and took in $3.27 trillion, so it borrowed 15¢ of every dollar it spent.In fiscal year 2016 (October 2015 to September 2016) the federal government spent $3.85 trillion and took in $3.27 trillion, leaving a deficit of $587.4 billion.
Spending by function
Where each dollar went in FY2016
Cents per dollar of gross function outlays. Hover or tap a block for the amount.
All functions as a table
| Function | Outlays | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security | $916.1 billion | 23.0% |
| National Defense | $595.3 billion | 14.9% |
| Medicare | $594.5 billion | 14.9% |
| Income Security | $514.6 billion | 12.9% |
| Health | $511.3 billion | 12.8% |
| Net Interest | $240.7 billion | 6.0% |
| Veterans Benefits and Services | $174.5 billion | 4.4% |
| Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services | $108.1 billion | 2.7% |
| Transportation | $92.9 billion | 2.3% |
| Administration of Justice | $57.1 billion | 1.4% |
| International Affairs | $45.3 billion | 1.1% |
| Natural Resources and Environment | $37.8 billion | 0.9% |
| General Science, Space, and Technology | $30.2 billion | 0.8% |
| Community and Regional Development | $21.1 billion | 0.5% |
| Agriculture | $20.2 billion | 0.5% |
| General Government | $18.6 billion | 0.5% |
| Energy | $3.7 billion | 0.1% |
| Undistributed Offsetting Receipts | -$95.3 billion | – |
| Commerce and Housing Credit | -$32.8 billion | – |
Shares are of the positive function lines. Negative lines are receipts netted against spending (for example, agencies' receipts from employee retirement contributions and offshore oil leases).
Outlays were up 4.5% on FY2015 ($3.69 trillion). The largest function was Social Security ($916.1 billion, 23.0% of gross function spending), followed by National Defense (14.9%), Medicare (14.9%), Income Security (12.9%). Individual income taxes brought in $1.55 trillion, 47.3% of all receipts.
Where the money came from
| Source | Receipts | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Income Taxes | $1.55 trillion | 47.3% |
| Employment and General Retirement | $1.06 trillion | 32.5% |
| Corporation Income Taxes | $299.6 billion | 9.2% |
| Miscellaneous Receipts | $154.7 billion | 4.7% |
| Excise Taxes | $95.0 billion | 2.9% |
| Unemployment Insurance | $48.9 billion | 1.5% |
| Customs Duties | $34.8 billion | 1.1% |
| Estate and Gift Taxes | $21.4 billion | 0.7% |
| Other Retirement | $3.9 billion | 0.1% |
Foreign aid in FY2016
US agencies obligated $49.6 billion in foreign assistance in FY2016, of which USAID managed $19.4 billion.
See how your own federal tax splits across this spending
Questions and answers
- How much did the federal government spend in 2016?
- $3.85 trillion in fiscal year 2016 (October 2015 to September 2016), according to the Monthly Treasury Statement.
- What was the biggest federal expense in 2016?
- Social Security: $916.1 billion.
- What was the federal deficit in 2016?
- Receipts were $3.27 trillion and outlays $3.85 trillion, so the deficit was $587.4 billion.
Sources and notes
- U.S. Department of the Treasury, Monthly Treasury Statement, Table 9, fiscal year to date as of 2016-09-30 (Fiscal Data API). Public domain.
- State figures: USAspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-04.