Government Spending and the Deficit

Response to the pandemic has pushed the federal budget higher than it's been in decades, but Americans are slightly less concerned about the deficit than in recent years.

Most Americans say economic problems resulting from the coronavirus outbreak will last for at least six months.

Around six-in-ten Democrats support increased spending for scientific research, compared with 40% of Republicans, a gap that has grown over time.

As of the end of June, the federal government's total debt stands at $22.023 trillion. The nation's debt is now bigger than its GDP.

When Americans are asked to make up the budget for the federal government, they have little appetite for austerity measures. Asked about 13 different government program areas, from veterans benefits to foreign aid, no more than about a quarter favor reducing spending in any specific area. The survey by Pew Research Center, conducted March 20-25 […]

About half of Americans say reducing the budget deficit should be a top policy priority this year for the president and Congress.

No matter who they blamed for previous government shutdowns or how much they felt personally affected by them, most Americans have had negative opinions about them.

The government shutdown has squeezed the daily flood of data from federal agencies down to a trickle. Take a look at what data are and are not available.

In the four decades that the current system for budgeting and spending tax dollars has been in effect, Congress has managed to pass all required appropriations bills on time only four times.

Survey Report As Congress faces an April 28 deadline to fund government operations, the public is now split in their general preferences on the size and scope of government: 48% say they would rather have a bigger government providing more services, while 45% prefer a smaller government providing fewer services. This marks the first time […]