The deficit: FY2026
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Monthly Treasury Statement, Table 9, August 2026 — fiscal-year-to-date totals. View the source dataset.
| Measure | FY2026 (through Aug 31) |
|---|---|
| Total outlays | $6.81T |
| Total receipts | $4.85T |
| Deficit | $1.97T |
Where the money goes: outlays by category
Source: Monthly Treasury Statement, Table 9, August 2026. View the source dataset. Explained in our spending explainer.
| Category | FY2026 outlays |
|---|---|
| Social Security | $1,526B |
| Net interest | $1,017B |
| Medicare | $979B |
| Health | $926B |
| National defense | $876B |
| Income security | $645B |
| Veterans benefits and services | $396B |
| Transportation | $126B |
| Administration of justice | $99B |
| Education, training, employment, and social services | $92B |
| Community and regional development | $57B |
| Natural resources and environment | $52B |
| Agriculture | $51B |
| International affairs | $45B |
| General science, space, and technology | $36B |
| General government | $25B |
| Energy | $18B |
| Commerce and housing credit | −$10B |
| Undistributed offsetting receipts | −$146B |
| Total outlays | $6,810B |
Where the money comes from: receipts by source
Source: Monthly Treasury Statement, Table 9, August 2026. View the source dataset. Explained in our revenue explainer.
| Source | FY2026 receipts |
|---|---|
| Individual income taxes | $2,548B |
| Employment and general retirement (payroll) | $1,607B |
| Corporation income taxes | $295B |
| Customs duties | $167B |
| Excise taxes | $93B |
| Unemployment insurance | $49B |
| Miscellaneous receipts | $43B |
| Estate and gift taxes | $36B |
| Other retirement | $8B |
| Total receipts | $4,845B |
Daily cash flow: September 28, 2026
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Daily Treasury Statement. View the source dataset.
| Measure | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total deposits | $34.9B |
| Total withdrawals | $20.7B |
| Net change | +$14.2B |
| Operating balance (cash on hand) | $959.6B |
The debt
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Debt to the Penny. View the source dataset.
| Measure | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total public debt outstanding (Sep 28, 2026) | $40,102,185,696,865.37 |
| Rounded | $40.10T |
| Debt per resident (≈342M residents) | ≈$117,000 |
Understand the numbers, not just see them
Our explainers turn these tables into plain English. Start with the deficit — the most misunderstood number in the budget.
Read the explainer