More Than $2.8 Trillion in Federal Funding in 2021

Jim Burger/Jim Burger

The U.S. Census Bureau* released a report estimating that more than $2.8 trillion in federal funding was distributed in fiscal year 2021 to states, communities, tribal governments and other recipients using Census Bureau data in whole or in part.

The report, Uses of Decennial Census Programs Data in Federal Funds Distribution: Fiscal Year 2021, analyzed federal assistance program spending that used Census Bureau data in whole or in part to determine how much money to allocate or eligibility for an assistance program. For the purposes of this analysis, Decennial Census Programs data include data produced by the decennial census, the American Community Survey (ACS), geographic programs supporting the decennial census and ACS, and related programs such as the annual population estimates.

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The Census Bureau does not distribute any federal funding or determine funding formulas, but its statistics inform those who do, demonstrating the importance of responding to the census, ACS and other surveys. Likewise, the report identifies funding programs that use these data; it does not attempt to document how such programs do so or how central census data are to particular funding determinations.

“Responding to Census Bureau surveys and the census can make a difference in the federal funding your community receives,” Census Bureau Director Robert L. Santos said. “Your participation improves the quality of the data and the decisions that send money back to your community. The government spends trillions of dollars each year, and Census Bureau data are key to ensuring that those dollars are being used effectively and equitably.” Continue reading...