US Budget, Spending, and Deficits

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Public Budget Database, Treasury Monthly Treasury Statement (MTS), Table 5, IRS Statistics of Income (SOI), BEA NIPA Table 7.1, and Census Bureau National Population Projections are the primary sources for data.

Research, Summary, and Editorial

2026 Budget: Spend, Receive, Borrow

The federal budget, showing the vast current deficit.

2026 Budget by Function

The federal budget, nearly 99% labeled; 1% other.

We have a two‑trillion‑dollar deficit. The only mathematically feasible way to close it is to cut military and entitlement spending and increase taxes — period, full stop.

85% of spending is on the left, in five large functions. 15% of spending is on the right, in over a dozen small functions.

Republicans want to save us "millions" or "billions" from the right -- an intellectual embarrassment -- the money isn't there.

2026 Budget by Category

The federal budget broken out by mandatory, discretionary, and net interest.

2026 Budget by Function

The federal budget broken out by relatable functional spending.

Historical Budget by President

Over the past fifteen presidential terms, seven Democrats and eight Republicans, spending has increased by an average of 35% under Republicans versus 20% under Democrats. A key driver of this large difference is the unbridled and wasteful military spending with which Republicans continue to run our deficits up with. Under a Democrat, military spending increases an average of just 13.6% versus the reckless and deficit increasing 32.5% increases under Republicans.