logo
Brief Publisher Logo
FACT BRIEF

Did the US government spend $6 trillion last year compared with $4 trillion four years ago?

By Tom Kertscher
View this fact brief on Wisconsin Watch
Copy link
email
Copy featured image
email
YES

The federal government spent $6.27 trillion in fiscal 2022, which covered Oct. 1, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2022, according to the Treasury Department.

That's up 51% from $4.11 trillion four years earlier.

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., drew the contrast in a Sept. 26, 2023, interview.

Nonpartisan federal budget experts cited various factors to Wisconsin Watch.

Robert Bixby of the Concord Coalition said spending on Social Security and healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid increased by $635 billion. “This is largely because of population aging and rising per-capita healthcare costs. In other words, they grow on autopilot,” he said.

Spending increased by roughly the same amount on programs responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

Marc Goldwein of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said inflation was another factor.

For the first 11 months of fiscal 2023, federal spending was 3% higher than fiscal 2022.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
US Treasury Department Treasury Bulletin December 2022
US Treasury Department Treasury Bulletin December 2018
IHeart The Vicki McKenna Show Ron Johnson interview
US Treasury Department How much has the US government spent this Year
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Wisconsin Watch
Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
FACT BRIEF BY
Brief Publisher Logo
Latest fact briefs from Wisconsin Watch
facebook
twitter
email
email
About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.