Report: Federal Spending Per Person Has Climbed Nearly 9,800% Since 1916

A new analysis from conservative fiscal watchdog Open The Books finds federal spending per capita in the United States has increased dramatically since 1916, contributing to concerns about affordability even as government outlays reach record levels.

Key Findings

Adjusted to today's dollars, Open The Books reports that federal spending per person was about $208.36 in 1916 and has risen to $20,474.19 — an increase of roughly 9,800% (on the order of a multiple of nearly 98 times). Nonpartisan estimates from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) show total federal outlays reached a record $7.035 trillion in Fiscal Year 2025.

The group's calculation translates to roughly $82,000 in federal spending for a family of four, an amount nearly equal to the 2024 median household income of $83,730.

How much federal per capita spending has increased since 1916. (Open The Books)

Spending Drivers And Context

Open The Books highlights that mandatory programs now dominate federal spending. According to the report, Medicare spending in 2024 totaled about $912 billion and Social Security received roughly $1.5 trillion — figures that dwarf one-time discretionary reductions.

The watchdog also notes past efforts to trim discretionary spending. It cites an initiative described as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) during the early part of former President Donald Trump's first term, which Open The Books says contributed to about $150 billion in discretionary savings; a July congressional rescission package added roughly $9 billion in reductions. Even so, these savings are small relative to mandatory program commitments.

Open The Books further points to cases where agency budgets have grown faster than staffing: for example, the Department of Education's spending has reportedly risen by 749% since 2000 while staffing levels declined.

At the Department of Education, since 2000, the number of staff has gone down but the agency's spending has increased nearly 8 times. (Open The Books)

John Hart, CEO of Open The Books: "While American families and businesses find a way to do more with less, government does less with more. The best affordability and stimulus program imaginable is to reduce waste, fraud and central planning in government. Every dollar saved in Washington is a dream realized somewhere in America."

The report calls for closer scrutiny and greater transparency of federal spending so taxpayers can better evaluate value and reduce waste, fraud and abuse.

Why This Matters

Because federal per-capita spending now approaches the median household income level and exceeds typical household grocery and mortgage costs in many cases, the watchdog argues policymakers and citizens should debate whether higher spending has delivered commensurate improvements in quality of life, affordability, or innovation.

Sources: Open The Books analysis; Congressional Budget Office; Department of Agriculture recommendations; Rocket Mortgage mortgage averages.