WhereTaxMoneyGoesFederal spending in California, FY 2026
Federal awards performed in California totaled $499.1 billion in fiscal year 2026 — about $12,624 per resident, ranking 1st among states and territories. Of award spending (excluding loans), contracts 11.8%, grants 33.3%, direct payments 54.7%, other assistance 0.1%.
FY 2026 totals are still filling in (Defense contracts publish with a 90-day delay), so they will rise as data arrives.
Federal awards in California by fiscal year
FY 2026 spending was up 3% from FY 2025 ($486.9 billion). Over the period shown, the peak was FY 2026 at $499.1 billion.
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Amount |
|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $499.1 billion |
| FY 2025 | $486.9 billion |
| FY 2024 | $447.3 billion |
| FY 2023 | $427.4 billion |
| FY 2022 | $425.8 billion |
| FY 2021 | $476.6 billion |
| FY 2020 | $392.2 billion |
| FY 2019 | $314.5 billion |
| FY 2018 | $312.2 billion |
| FY 2017 | $309.7 billion |
Top recipients in California
FY 2026, place of performance in California. State agencies often top this list because Medicaid and other formula grants pass through them.
| # | Recipient | Amount | Relative size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Multiple recipients (aggregated) | $240.4 billion | |
| 2 | Health Care Services, California Department of | $117.3 billion | |
| 3 | Department of Social Services California | $22.7 billion | |
| 4 | Department of Education California | $7.6 billion | |
| 5 | Department of Transportation California | $6.5 billion | |
| 6 | Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC | $3.7 billion | |
| 7 | National Steel and Shipbuilding Company | $2.8 billion | |
| 8 | General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, INC. | $2.7 billion | |
| 9 | UFCW - Northern California Employers Joint Pension Plan | $2.6 billion | |
| 10 | Fisher Sand & Gravel CO | $2.5 billion |
Which agencies spend in California
FY 2026 award obligations by awarding agency.
| # | Agency | Amount | Relative size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Department of Health and Human Services | $191.1 billion | |
| 2 | Social Security Administration | $167.1 billion | |
| 3 | Department of Defense | $33.3 billion | |
| 4 | Department of Veterans Affairs | $21.5 billion | |
| 5 | Department of Agriculture | $21.5 billion | |
| 6 | Department of Transportation | $12.7 billion | |
| 7 | Department of Education | $11.2 billion | |
| 8 | Department of Housing and Urban Development | $9.4 billion | |
| 9 | Department of Energy | $7.6 billion | |
| 10 | Department of Homeland Security | $6.3 billion |
Largest federal assistance programs in California
Assistance Listings (formerly CFDA programs) with the most FY 2026 obligations performed in California.
| # | Program | Amount | Relative size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Social Security Retirement Insurance (96.002) | $136.3 billion | |
| 2 | Grants to States for Medicaid (93.778) | $111.4 billion | |
| 3 | Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance (93.774) | $28.1 billion | |
| 4 | Medicare Hospital Insurance (93.773) | $18.0 billion | |
| 5 | Veterans Compensation for Service-Connected Disability (64.109) | $15.4 billion | |
| 6 | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (10.551) | $12.0 billion | |
| 7 | Social Security Disability Insurance (96.001) | $11.3 billion | |
| 8 | Social Security Survivors Insurance (96.004) | $11.0 billion |
Search California awards
Contracts in California Grants in California
Compare with nearby ranks
Source data last updated November 4, 2026 · Imported November 6, 2026 · Dollar figures are nominal and rounded. How these numbers are calculated · Report a problem