page_title: United States federal budget
section_title: Total outlays in recent budget submissions
hierarchical_section_title: United States federal budget / Total outlays in recent budget submissions
caption_attribution_description: English: Federal, State, and local total spending history chart
context_page_description: The United States federal budget comprises the spending and revenues of the U.S. federal government. The budget is the financial representation of the priorities of the government, reflecting historical debates and competing economic philosophies. The government primarily spends on healthcare, retirement, and defense programs. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office provides extensive analysis of the budget and its economic effects. It has reported that large budget deficits over the next 30 years are projected to drive federal debt held by the public to unprecedented levels—from 78 percent of gross domestic product in 2019 to 144 percent by 2049.
  The United States has the largest external debt in the world and the 14th largest government debt as % of GDP in the world. The annual budget deficit increased from $585 billion in 2016 to $984 billion in 2019, up 68%. Relative to a CBO forecast prior to President Trump's inauguration, the budget deficits for 2019-2021 roughly doubled, due to the Trump tax cuts and other spending legislation.
context_section_description: 2019 United States federal budget – $4.4 trillion (submitted 2018 by President Trump)
  2018 United States federal budget – $4.1 trillion (submitted 2017 by President Trump)
  2017 United States federal budget – $4.2 trillion (submitted 2016 by President Obama)
  2016 United States federal budget – $4.0 trillion (submitted 2015 by President Obama)
  2015 United States federal budget – $3.9 trillion (submitted 2014 by President Obama)
  2014 United States federal budget – $3.5 trillion (submitted 2013 by President Obama)
  2013 United States federal budget – $3.8 trillion (submitted 2012 by President Obama)
  2012 United States federal budget – $3.7 trillion (submitted 2011 by President Obama)
  2011 United States federal budget – $3.8 trillion (submitted 2010 by President Obama)
  2010 United States federal budget – $3.6 trillion (submitted 2009 by President Obama)
  2009 United States federal budget – $3.5 trillion (submitted 2008 by President Bush)
  2008 United States federal budget – $2.9 trillion (submitted 2007 by President Bush)
  2007 United States federal budget – $2.8 trillion (submitted 2006 by President Bush)
  2006 United States federal budget – $2.7 trillion (submitted 2005 by President Bush)
  2005 United States federal budget – $2.4 trillion (submitted 2004 by President Bush)
  2004 United States federal budget – $2.3 trillion (submitted 2003 by President Bush)
  2003 United States federal budget – $2.2 trillion (submitted 2002 by President Bush)
  2002 United States federal budget – $2.0 trillion (submitted 2001 by President Bush)
  2001 United States federal budget – $1.9 trillion (submitted 2000 by President Clinton)
  2000 United States federal budget – $1.8 trillion (submitted 1999 by President Clinton)
  1999 United States federal budget – $1.7 trillion (submitted 1998 by President Clinton)
  1998 United States federal budget – $1.7 trillion (submitted 1997 by President Clinton)
  1997 United States federal budget – $1.6 trillion (submitted 1996 by President Clinton)
  1996 United States federal budget – $1.6 trillion (submitted 1995 by President Clinton)
  The budget year runs from October 1 to September 30 the following year and is submitted by the President to Congress prior to October for the following year. In this way the budget of 2013 is submitted before the end of September 2012. This means that the budget of 2001 was submitted by Bill Clinton and was in force during most of George W. Bush's first year in office. The budget submitted by George W. Bush in his last year in office was the budget of 2009, which was in force through most of Barack Obama's first year in office.
  The President's budget also contains revenue and spending projections for the current fiscal year, the coming fiscal years, as well as several future fiscal years. In recent years, the President's budget contained projections five years into the future. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issues a "Budget and Economic Outlook" each January and an analysis of the President's budget each March. CBO also issues an updated budget and economic outlook in August.
  Actual budget data for prior years is available from the Congressional Budget Office; see the "Historical Budget Data" links on the main page of "The Budget and Economic Outlook". and from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
caption: Federal, state, and local spending history.
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