US federal budgetOctober 2016 to September 2017
Federal spending in 2017
The federal government spent $3.98 trillion in FY2017 and took in $3.31 trillion, so it borrowed 17¢ of every dollar it spent.In fiscal year 2017 (October 2016 to September 2017) the federal government spent $3.98 trillion and took in $3.31 trillion, leaving a deficit of $665.7 billion.
Spending by function
Where each dollar went in FY2017
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 | $944.9 billion | 23.1% |
| National Defense | $600.3 billion | 14.6% |
| Medicare | $597.3 billion | 14.6% |
| Health | $533.1 billion | 13.0% |
| Income Security | $504.0 billion | 12.3% |
| Net Interest | $262.8 billion | 6.4% |
| Veterans Benefits and Services | $176.5 billion | 4.3% |
| Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services | $142.2 billion | 3.5% |
| Transportation | $93.9 billion | 2.3% |
| Administration of Justice | $58.9 billion | 1.4% |
| International Affairs | $46.3 billion | 1.1% |
| Natural Resources and Environment | $36.1 billion | 0.9% |
| General Science, Space, and Technology | $30.5 billion | 0.7% |
| Community and Regional Development | $26.4 billion | 0.6% |
| Agriculture | $20.8 billion | 0.5% |
| General Government | $19.8 billion | 0.5% |
| Energy | $4.0 billion | 0.1% |
| Undistributed Offsetting Receipts | -$89.8 billion | – |
| Commerce and Housing Credit | -$27.3 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 3.3% on FY2016 ($3.85 trillion). The largest function was Social Security ($944.9 billion, 23.1% of gross function spending), followed by National Defense (14.6%), Medicare (14.6%), Health (13.0%). Individual income taxes brought in $1.59 trillion, 47.9% of all receipts.
Where the money came from
| Source | Receipts | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Income Taxes | $1.59 trillion | 47.9% |
| Employment and General Retirement | $1.11 trillion | 33.5% |
| Corporation Income Taxes | $297.0 billion | 9.0% |
| Miscellaneous Receipts | $127.7 billion | 3.9% |
| Excise Taxes | $83.8 billion | 2.5% |
| Unemployment Insurance | $45.8 billion | 1.4% |
| Customs Duties | $34.6 billion | 1.0% |
| Estate and Gift Taxes | $22.8 billion | 0.7% |
| Other Retirement | $4.2 billion | 0.1% |
Foreign aid in FY2017
US agencies obligated $48.3 billion in foreign assistance in FY2017, of which USAID managed $20.6 billion.
See how your own federal tax splits across this spending
Questions and answers
- How much did the federal government spend in 2017?
- $3.98 trillion in fiscal year 2017 (October 2016 to September 2017), according to the Monthly Treasury Statement.
- What was the biggest federal expense in 2017?
- Social Security: $944.9 billion.
- What was the federal deficit in 2017?
- Receipts were $3.31 trillion and outlays $3.98 trillion, so the deficit was $665.7 billion.
Sources and notes
- U.S. Department of the Treasury, Monthly Treasury Statement, Table 9, fiscal year to date as of 2017-09-30 (Fiscal Data API). Public domain.
- State figures: USAspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-04.