The US government posted a $167 billion budget deficit in August 2026, narrowing from a $345 billion shortfall a year earlier and well below forecasts for a $404 billion gap. Government outlays fell to $527 billion from $689 billion. Social Security ($141 billion), net interest ($86 billion), health ($81 billion) and national defense ($72 billion) accounted for the largest expenditures. Meanwhile, government receipts rose to $360 billion from $344 billion, led by individual income taxes ($179 billion) and social insurance and retirement receipts ($141 billion). The cumulative deficit for fiscal year 2026 reached $1.966 trillion through August. source: Financial Management Service, US Treasury

The United States recorded a government budget deficit of 167000 USD Million in August of 2026. Government Budget Value in the United States averaged -33524.12 USD Million from 1954 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 308215.00 USD Million in April of 2022 and a record low of -864074.00 USD Million in June of 2020. This page provides - United States Government Budget Value - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. United States Government Budget - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on September of 2026.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-08-12 06:00 PM
Monthly Budget Statement
Jul $-432B $-120B $-346B $-340.0B
2026-09-11 06:00 PM
Monthly Budget Statement
Aug $-167B $-432B $-404B $-380.0B
2026-10-12 06:00 PM
Monthly Budget Statement
Sep



Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Fiscal Expenditure 526830.00 766318.00 USD Million Aug 2026
Government Revenues 360033.00 334010.00 USD Million Aug 2026

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Asylum Applications 874106.00 909876.00 Persons Dec 2025
Credit Rating 97.00 Sep 2026
Government Budget -5.90 -6.30 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Monthly Budget Statement -167000.00 -432000.00 USD Million Aug 2026
Government Debt 40175641.00 39771617.00 USD Million Aug 2026
Government Debt to GDP 123.30 121.70 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Government Spending 3990.50 4000.20 USD Billion Jun 2026
Government Spending to GDP 33.80 33.90 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Holidays
Military Expenditure 954387.00 1004901.00 USD Million Dec 2025


United States Government Budget
Federal Government budget balance is the difference between budget receipts (income) and budget outlays (spending). A budget surplus is expressed as a positive value. A budget deficit is expressed as a negative value.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-167000.00 -432000.00 308215.00 -864074.00 1954 - 2026 USD Million Monthly
Current Prices, NSA

News Stream
US Budget Deficit Narrows in August
The US government posted a $167 billion budget deficit in August 2026, narrowing from a $345 billion shortfall a year earlier and well below forecasts for a $404 billion gap. Government outlays fell to $527 billion from $689 billion. Social Security ($141 billion), net interest ($86 billion), health ($81 billion) and national defense ($72 billion) accounted for the largest expenditures. Meanwhile, government receipts rose to $360 billion from $344 billion, led by individual income taxes ($179 billion) and social insurance and retirement receipts ($141 billion). The cumulative deficit for fiscal year 2026 reached $1.966 trillion through August.
2026-09-11
US Budget Deficit Widens in July
The US government posted a $432 billion budget deficit in July 2026, widening from a $291 billion shortfall a year earlier and exceeding forecasts for a $346 billion gap. Government outlays rose to $766 billion from $630 billion in July 2025, led by Medicare spending of $174 billion. Social Security costs reached $141 billion, while net interest accounted for $104 billion and national defense for $91 billion. Meanwhile, government receipts fell to $334 billion from $338 billion a year earlier, with individual income taxes contributing $173 billion and social insurance and retirement receipts totaling $139 billion.
2026-08-12
US Budget Deficit Narrows in May
The US government recorded a $293 billion budget deficit in May 2026, compared with a $316 billion gap a year earlier, but wider than forecasts of a $275 billion shortfall. Government outlays declined to $628 billion from $687 billion. The largest spending categories were Social Security ($140 billion), net interest payments ($107 billion), Medicare ($87 billion), and health programs ($82 billion). Meanwhile, receipts fell to $335 billion from $371 billion. The main sources of revenue were social insurance and retirement contributions ($157 billion), individual income taxes ($152 billion), and corporate income taxes ($11 billion). In the first eight months of fiscal year 2026, the federal budget deficit totaled $1.25 trillion.
2026-06-10