WhereTaxMoneyGoesFederal spending in North Carolina, FY 2026
Federal awards performed in North Carolina totaled $129.9 billion in fiscal year 2026 — about $12,644 per resident, ranking 16th among states and territories. Of award spending (excluding loans), contracts 4.4%, grants 34.3%, direct payments 60.9%, other assistance 0.4%.
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 North Carolina by fiscal year
FY 2026 spending was essentially flat compared with FY 2025. Over the period shown, the peak was FY 2026 at $129.9 billion.
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Amount |
|---|---|
| FY 2026 | $129.9 billion |
| FY 2025 | $129.5 billion |
| FY 2024 | $109.3 billion |
| FY 2023 | $101.0 billion |
| FY 2022 | $98.6 billion |
| FY 2021 | $112.6 billion |
| FY 2020 | $92.5 billion |
| FY 2019 | $77.1 billion |
| FY 2018 | $71.7 billion |
| FY 2017 | $68.5 billion |
Top recipients in North Carolina
FY 2026, place of performance in North Carolina. State agencies often top this list because Medicaid and other formula grants pass through them.
| # | Recipient | Amount | Relative size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Multiple recipients (aggregated) | $73.5 billion | |
| 2 | North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services | $33.4 billion | |
| 3 | Transportation North Carolina Department | $4.5 billion | |
| 4 | North Carolina Department of Public Safety | $2.1 billion | |
| 5 | North Carolina Department of Public Instruction | $2.0 billion | |
| 6 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $724.8 million | |
| 7 | Duke University | $673.1 million | |
| 8 | North Carolina Department of Transportation | $615.7 million | |
| 9 | Research Triangle Institute | $593.4 million | |
| 10 | Redacted Due to Pii | $543.5 million |
Which agencies spend in North Carolina
FY 2026 award obligations by awarding agency.
| # | Agency | Amount | Relative size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Social Security Administration | $58.5 billion | |
| 2 | Department of Health and Human Services | $36.5 billion | |
| 3 | Department of Veterans Affairs | $12.0 billion | |
| 4 | Department of Transportation | $5.9 billion | |
| 5 | Department of Agriculture | $5.3 billion | |
| 6 | Department of Defense | $2.8 billion | |
| 7 | Department of Education | $2.8 billion | |
| 8 | Department of Homeland Security | $2.5 billion | |
| 9 | Department of Housing and Urban Development | $1.2 billion | |
| 10 | General Services Administration | $833.3 million |
Largest federal assistance programs in North Carolina
Assistance Listings (formerly CFDA programs) with the most FY 2026 obligations performed in North Carolina.
| # | Program | Amount | Relative size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Social Security Retirement Insurance (96.002) | $46.7 billion | |
| 2 | Grants to States for Medicaid (93.778) | $26.9 billion | |
| 3 | Veterans Compensation for Service-Connected Disability (64.109) | $9.8 billion | |
| 4 | Social Security Disability Insurance (96.001) | $6.2 billion | |
| 5 | Social Security Survivors Insurance (96.004) | $3.6 billion | |
| 6 | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (10.551) | $2.7 billion | |
| 7 | Highway Planning and Construction (20.205) | $2.5 billion | |
| 8 | Supplemental Security Income (96.006) | $2.0 billion |
Search North Carolina awards
Contracts in North Carolina Grants in North Carolina
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