Spending from the Highway Trust Fund consistently exceeds revenues, and Congress made these deficits worse with the 2021 infrastructure package.
Additional Sources: Federal Highway Administration
Updated February 8, 2024
Source: Congressional Budget Office
Due to unchecked federal spending, publicly held federal debt is at its highest level since World War II.
Updated February 8, 2024
Source: Congressional Budget Office
Federal spending will increase by more than $3.5 trillion from 2023 through 2033. Three major budget categories—health care, social security, and interest on the debt—will account for 81 percent of this spending growth.
Updated February 8, 2024
Source: Congressional Budget Office
Health care spending already consumes more of the federal budget than any other area.
Updated March 9, 2023
Source: Congressional Budget Office
To finance borrowing, the U.S. government sells treasury securities domestically and abroad. Foreign governments, individuals, and institutions then buy these securities as an investment. Currently, mainland China is the second-largest foreign owner of U.S. national debt with $859 billion.
Updated August 31, 2023
Source: U.S. Treasury Department
Despite the top individual tax rate fluctuating between 91 and 28 percent over the past 50 years, total individual tax receipts have remained fairly stable. The top rate decreased in 2018 and is now at 37 percent.
Additional Sources: Internal Revenue Service
Updated May 16, 2023
Source: Office of Management and Budget
