WhereTaxMoneyGoesFederal spending in Kentucky, FY 2026
Federal awards performed in Kentucky totaled $202.3 billion in fiscal year 2026 — about $45,415 per resident, ranking 9th among states and territories. Of award spending (excluding loans), contracts 4.7%, grants 12.2%, direct payments 83.0%, 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 Kentucky by fiscal year
FY 2026 spending was up 17% from FY 2025 ($173.6 billion). Over the period shown, the peak was FY 2026 at $202.3 billion.
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Amount |
|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $202.3 billion |
| FY 2025 | $173.6 billion |
| FY 2024 | $163.6 billion |
| FY 2023 | $159.8 billion |
| FY 2022 | $150.7 billion |
| FY 2021 | $142.7 billion |
| FY 2020 | $119.8 billion |
| FY 2019 | $103.3 billion |
| FY 2018 | $89.9 billion |
| FY 2017 | $91.8 billion |
Top recipients in Kentucky
FY 2026, place of performance in Kentucky. State agencies often top this list because Medicaid and other formula grants pass through them.
| # | Recipient | Amount | Relative size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Multiple recipients (aggregated) | $165.2 billion | |
| 2 | Health Services Kentucky Cabinet for | $20.5 billion | |
| 3 | Humana Government Business INC | $5.6 billion | |
| 4 | Kentucky Department of Education | $1.2 billion | |
| 5 | Executive Office of the Commonwealth of Kentucky | $1.1 billion | |
| 6 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | $709.8 million | |
| 7 | Kentucky Department of Military Affairs | $429.2 million | |
| 8 | Thalle - Bauer LLC | $379.0 million | |
| 9 | BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P. | $317.0 million | |
| 10 | University of Kentucky Research Foundation, the | $289.3 million |
Which agencies spend in Kentucky
FY 2026 award obligations by awarding agency.
| # | Agency | Amount | Relative size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Department of Health and Human Services | $157.1 billion | |
| 2 | Social Security Administration | $24.6 billion | |
| 3 | Department of Defense | $8.6 billion | |
| 4 | Department of Veterans Affairs | $3.2 billion | |
| 5 | Department of Agriculture | $2.5 billion | |
| 6 | Department of Education | $1.5 billion | |
| 7 | Department of Transportation | $1.4 billion | |
| 8 | Department of Housing and Urban Development | $667.1 million | |
| 9 | Department of Homeland Security | $543.6 million | |
| 10 | Railroad Retirement Board | $348.2 million |
Largest federal assistance programs in Kentucky
Assistance Listings (formerly CFDA programs) with the most FY 2026 obligations performed in Kentucky.
| # | Program | Amount | Relative size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance (93.774) | $63.5 billion | |
| 2 | Medicare Hospital Insurance (93.773) | $40.7 billion | |
| 3 | Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (93.770) | $33.1 billion | |
| 4 | Social Security Retirement Insurance (96.002) | $17.5 billion | |
| 5 | Grants to States for Medicaid (93.778) | $17.4 billion | |
| 6 | Social Security Disability Insurance (96.001) | $3.6 billion | |
| 7 | Veterans Compensation for Service-Connected Disability (64.109) | $2.5 billion | |
| 8 | Social Security Survivors Insurance (96.004) | $2.1 billion |
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Contracts in Kentucky Grants in Kentucky
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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