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Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services
Schools and colleges, student aid, job training and social services.
$69.2B
spent in fiscal year 2025 (net)
1.0 cents
of every federal dollar, the 12th largest purpose
$202
for every person in the country
−42.5%
since fiscal year 2015, before inflation
In 2015 it was $120.4B, or $163.5B in 2025 dollars; after inflation it has changed by −57.7% since then.
Over time
Net outlays for Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services in each fiscal year, from the Treasury’s September statements.
The figures
| Fiscal year | Net outlays | In 2025 dollars | Share of all spending |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $69,194,134,949 | $69.2B | 1.0% |
| 2024 | $305,026,199,447 | $313.1B | 4.5% |
| 2023 | -$3,125,242,893 | -$3.30B | -0.1% |
| 2022 | $676,593,222,022 | $744.3B | 10.8% |
| 2021 | $296,592,622,616 | $352.4B | 4.4% |
| 2020 | $236,722,686,775 | $294.5B | 3.6% |
| 2019 | $134,965,928,823 | $170.0B | 3.0% |
| 2018 | $93,877,468,395 | $120.4B | 2.3% |
| 2017 | $142,156,579,660 | $186.7B | 3.6% |
| 2016 | $108,057,798,196 | $144.9B | 2.8% |
| 2015 | $120,375,734,592 | $163.5B | 3.3% |
What is inside it
Its subfunctions, by the gross outlays of every agency account classified to each: before collections and transfers are netted, so they add to more than the Treasury’s figure above.
- Higher education51.4%$118,220,313,185
- Elementary, secondary, and vocational education29.8%$68,568,993,597
- Social services11.6%$26,637,046,300
- Training and employment4.7%$10,812,453,755
- Other labor services1.4%$3,166,440,682
- Research and general education aids1.1%$2,532,000,567
- Gross outlays100%$229,937,248,086
Which agencies pay for each subfunction
Higher education
- Department of Education$115.6B97.8%
- Department of the Treasury$2.61B2.2%
- Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation$6.1M<0.1%
- Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation$5.1M<0.1%
- Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence In Education Foundation$3.3M<0.1%
- James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation$2.5M<0.1%
Elementary, secondary, and vocational education
- Department of Education$66.5B97.0%
- Department of the Interior$1.45B2.1%
- Department of the Treasury$623M0.9%
Social services
- Department of Health and Human Services$20.5B76.9%
- Department of Education$4.52B17.0%
- Corporation for National and Community Service$1.62B6.1%
- Department of the Treasury$1.7M<0.1%
Training and employment
- Department of Labor$10.8B100.0%
Other labor services
Research and general education aids
- Department of Education$1.17B46.1%
- Department of the Treasury$587M23.2%
- Institute of Museum and Library Services$337M13.3%
- National Endowment for the Arts$234M9.2%
- National Endowment for the Humanities$200M7.9%
- Commission of Fine Arts$5.0M0.2%
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration$765k<0.1%
Which agencies pay for it
Gross outlays from each agency’s accounts in this function. Open an agency to see everything else it spends on.
- Department of Education$187.8B81.7%
- Department of Health and Human Services$20.5B8.9%
- Department of Labor$13.6B5.9%
- Department of the Treasury$3.82B1.7%
- Corporation for National and Community Service$1.62B0.7%
- Department of the Interior$1.45B0.6%
- Institute of Museum and Library Services$337M0.1%
- National Labor Relations Board$309M0.1%
- National Endowment for the Arts$234M0.1%
- National Endowment for the Humanities$200M0.1%
- Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service$51M<0.1%
- National Mediation Board$14M<0.1%
- Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled$12M<0.1%
- Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation$6.1M<0.1%
- Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation$5.1M<0.1%
Show the other 4 agencies
The accounts it is paid from
Every federal account in the function, by the amount obligated (committed) in the year, which is what USAspending’s spending explorer reports by function; each account’s gross outlays are beside it where its agency reported them. Each opens on USAspending.gov.
- Federal Direct Student Loan Program, EducationHigher education · Department of Education · $64.7B gross outlays$67.9B30.7%
- Student Financial Assistance, EducationHigher education · Department of Education · $42.1B gross outlays$50.4B22.7%
- Education for the Disadvantaged, EducationElementary, secondary, and vocational education · Department of Education · $20.5B gross outlays$19.2B8.7%
- Special Education, EducationElementary, secondary, and vocational education · Department of Education · $16.3B gross outlays$15.5B7.0%
- Children and Families Services Programs, Administration for Children and Families, Health and Human ServicesSocial services · Department of Health and Human Services · $15.2B gross outlays$14.8B6.7%
- Training and Employment Service, Employment and Training Administration, LaborTraining and employment · Department of Labor · $3.89B gross outlays$5.98B2.7%
- School Improvement Programs, EducationElementary, secondary, and vocational education · Department of Education · $6.49B gross outlays$5.79B2.6%
- Rehabilitation Services, EducationSocial services · Department of Education · $4.52B gross outlays$4.28B1.9%
- State Unemployment Insurance and Employment Service Operations, Employment and Training Administration, LaborTraining and employment · Department of Labor · $4.38B gross outlays$4.20B1.9%
- Higher Education, Department of EducationHigher education · Department of Education · $3.57B gross outlays$3.23B1.5%
- Aging and Disability Services Programs, Administration for Community Living, Health and Human ServicesSocial services · Department of Health and Human Services · $3.07B gross outlays$2.57B1.2%
- Payment Where American Opportunity Credit Exceeds Liability for Tax - Recovery Act, Internal Revenue Service, TreasuryHigher education · Department of the Treasury · $2.55B gross outlays$2.55B1.2%
- Career, Technical, and Adult Education, EducationElementary, secondary, and vocational education · Department of Education · $4.36B gross outlays$2.52B1.1%
- Federal Family Education Loan Program Account, EducationHigher education · Department of Education · $2.37B gross outlays$2.37B1.1%
- Student and Administration, EducationHigher education · Department of Education · $2.28B gross outlays$2.08B0.9%
- Impact Aid, Department of EducationElementary, secondary, and vocational education · Department of Education · $1.64B gross outlays$1.65B0.7%
- Social Services Block Grant, Administration for Children and Families, Health and Human ServicesSocial services · Department of Health and Human Services · $1.55B gross outlays$1.60B0.7%
- Office of Job Corps, Employment and Training Administration, LaborTraining and employment · Department of Labor · $1.85B gross outlays$1.58B0.7%
- Operation of Indian Education Programs, Bureau of Indian Education, InteriorElementary, secondary, and vocational education · Department of the Interior · $1.45B gross outlays$1.36B0.6%
- Innovation and Improvement, EducationElementary, secondary, and vocational education · Department of Education · $1.34B gross outlays$1.19B0.5%
Show the other 71 accounts
- Operating Expenses, Corporation for National and Community ServiceSocial services · Corporation for National and Community Service · $1.14B gross outlays$1.14B0.5%
- English Language Acquisition, EducationElementary, secondary, and vocational education · Department of Education · $926M gross outlays$880M0.4%
- Salaries and Expenses, Bureau of Labor StatisticsOther labor services · Department of Labor · $795M gross outlays$742M0.3%
- Working Capital Fund, LaborOther labor services · Department of Labor · $698M gross outlays$658M0.3%
- Safe Schools and Citizenship Education, EducationElementary, secondary, and vocational education · Department of Education · $676M gross outlays$614M0.3%
- Public Broadcasting Fund, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, TreasuryResearch and general education aids · Department of the Treasury · $587M gross outlays$595M0.3%
- Promoting Safe and Stable Families, Administration for Children and Families, Health and Human ServicesSocial services · Department of Health and Human Services · $684M gross outlays$541M0.2%
- Payment to Issuer of Qualified School Construction Bonds, Internal Revenue Service, TreasuryElementary, secondary, and vocational education · Department of the Treasury · $537M gross outlays$537M0.2%
- Institute of Education Sciences, Department of EducationResearch and general education aids · Department of Education · $674M gross outlays$517M0.2%
- Program Administration, Departmental Management, EducationResearch and general education aids · Department of Education · $398M gross outlays$431M0.2%
- Salaries and Expenses, Departmental Management, LaborOther labor services · Department of Labor · $477M gross outlays$409M0.2%
- Salaries and Expenses, National Labor Relations BoardOther labor services · National Labor Relations Board · $309M gross outlays$307M0.1%
- Howard University, EducationHigher education · Department of Education · $337M gross outlays$304M0.1%
- Office of Museum and Library Services: Grants and Administration, Institute of Museum and Library ServicesResearch and general education aids · Institute of Museum and Library Services · $337M gross outlays$295M0.1%
- Salaries and Expenses, Wage and Hour Division, LaborOther labor services · Department of Labor · $262M gross outlays$263M0.1%
- Program Administration, Employment and Training Administration, LaborTraining and employment · Department of Labor · $207M gross outlays$203M0.1%
- Indian Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, EducationElementary, secondary, and vocational education · Department of Education · $201M gross outlays$194M0.1%
- National Service Trust, Corporation for National and Community ServiceSocial services · Corporation for National and Community Service · $161M gross outlays$191M0.1%
- Payment to National Service Trust, Corporation for National and Community ServiceSocial services · Corporation for National and Community Service · $180M gross outlays$180M0.1%
- Grants and Administration, National Endowment for the ArtsResearch and general education aids · National Endowment for the Arts · $233M gross outlays$176M0.1%
- Salaries and Expenses, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, LaborOther labor services · Department of Labor · $170M gross outlays$171M0.1%
- Gallaudet University, Special Institutions for Persons with Disabilities, EducationHigher education · Department of Education · $159M gross outlays$167M0.1%
- Department of Education Nonrecurring Expenses FundResearch and general education aids · Department of Education · $96M gross outlays$153M0.1%
- Salaries and Expenses, Office of Federal Contract and Compliance Programs, LaborOther labor services · Department of Labor · $110M gross outlays$111M0.1%
- Grants and Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Foundation on the Arts and HumanitiesResearch and general education aids · National Endowment for the Humanities · $200M gross outlays$110M<0.1%
- Salaries and Expenses, Corporation for National and Community ServiceSocial services · Corporation for National and Community Service · $121M gross outlays$105M<0.1%
- Office of the Inspector General, Departmental Management, LaborOther labor services · Department of Labor · $96M gross outlays$97M<0.1%
- National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Special Institutions for Persons with Disabilities, Department of EducationHigher education · Department of Education · $92M gross outlays$93M<0.1%
- Community Service Employment for Older Americans, Employment and Training Administration, LaborTraining and employment · Department of Labor · $339M gross outlays$90M<0.1%
- H-1B and L Fraud Protection and Detection Account, Wage and Hour Division, LaborOther labor services · Department of Labor · $55M gross outlays$56M<0.1%
- Federal Payment for School Improvement, TreasuryElementary, secondary, and vocational education · Department of the Treasury · $53M gross outlays$53M<0.1%
- Salaries and Expenses, Federal Mediation and Conciliation ServiceOther labor services · Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service · $51M gross outlays$49M<0.1%
- Salaries and Expenses, Office of Labor Management and Standards, LaborOther labor services · Department of Labor · $48M gross outlays$49M<0.1%
- American Printing House for the Blind, Special Institutions for Persons with Disabilities, EducationElementary, secondary, and vocational education · Department of Education · $54M gross outlays$43M<0.1%
- Salaries and Expenses, Office of Disability Employment Policy, LaborOther labor services · Department of Labor · $52M gross outlays$43M<0.1%
- Teach Grant Program Account, EducationHigher education · Department of Education · $40M gross outlays$42M<0.1%
- Federal Payment for Resident Tuition Support, TreasuryHigher education · Department of the Treasury · $61M gross outlays$40M<0.1%
- Salaries and Expenses, H-1B Funded, Training and Employment Services, Employment and Training Administration, LaborTraining and employment · Department of Labor · $84M gross outlays$37M<0.1%
- Payment to Issuer of Qualified Zone Academy Bonds, Internal Revenue Service, TreasuryElementary, secondary, and vocational education · Department of the Treasury · $34M gross outlays$34M<0.1%
- IT Modernization, Departmental Management, LaborOther labor services · Department of Labor · $16M gross outlays$23M<0.1%
- Salaries and Expenses, H-1B Funded, State Unemployment Insurance and Employment Operations, Employment and Training Administration, LaborTraining and employment · Department of Labor · $20M gross outlays$20M<0.1%
- Salaries and Expenses, National Mediation BoardOther labor services · National Mediation Board · $14M gross outlays$15M<0.1%
- Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Program Account, EducationHigher education · Department of Education · $27M gross outlays$15M<0.1%
- Federal Unemployment Benefits and Allowances, Employment and Training Administration, LaborTraining and employment · Department of Labor · $37M gross outlays$14M<0.1%
- Payment to the Institute, Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts DevelopmentHigher education$13M<0.1%
- Salaries and Expenses, Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely DisabledOther labor services · Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled · $12M gross outlays$13M<0.1%
- Office of Inspector General, Corporation for National and Community ServiceSocial services · Corporation for National and Community Service · $9.3M gross outlays$9.3M<0.1%
- National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs, Commission of Fine ArtsResearch and general education aids · Commission of Fine Arts · $5.0M gross outlays$5.0M<0.1%
- Vista Advance Payment Revolving Fund, Corporation for National and Community ServiceSocial services · Corporation for National and Community Service · $4.5M gross outlays$4.5M<0.1%
- Guaranteed Student Loans, Liquidating Account, EducationHigher education · Department of Education · $4.4M gross outlays$4.3M<0.1%
- Trust Fund, Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in EducationHigher education · Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence In Education Foundation · $2.8M gross outlays$3.7M<0.1%
- Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Trust Fund, Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall FoundationHigher education · Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation · $3.2M gross outlays$3.2M<0.1%
- Federal Student Loan Reserve Fund, EducationHigher education · Department of Education · $3.1M gross outlays$3.1M<0.1%
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Scholarship Trust Fund, Harry S Truman Scholarship FoundationHigher education · Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation · $3.1M gross outlays$3.1M<0.1%
- Salaries and Expenses, Harry S. Truman Scholarship FoundationHigher education · Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation · $3.0M gross outlays$3.0M<0.1%
- Gifts and Contributions, Corporation for National and Community ServiceSocial services · Corporation for National and Community Service · $3.1M gross outlays$2.8M<0.1%
- Expenses, James Madison Memorial Fellowship FoundationHigher education · James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation · $2.5M gross outlays$2.6M<0.1%
- Gifts and Donations, Bureau of Indian AffairsElementary, secondary, and vocational education · Department of the Interior · $2.9M gross outlays$2.6M<0.1%
- Federal Payment to Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy FoundationHigher education · Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation · $1.8M gross outlays$1.8M<0.1%
- Gifts and Donations, National Endowment for the ArtsResearch and general education aids · National Endowment for the Arts · $855k gross outlays$1.2M<0.1%
- Social Impact Demonstration Projects, Departmental Offices, TreasurySocial services · Department of the Treasury · $1.7M gross outlays$911k<0.1%
- Science, Space and Technology Education Trust Fund, National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationResearch and general education aids · National Aeronautics and Space Administration · $750k gross outlays$750k<0.1%
- College Housing and Academic Facilities Loans Program, EducationHigher education · Department of Education · $229k gross outlays$239k<0.1%
- Salaries and Expenses, Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education FoundationHigher education · Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence In Education Foundation · $496k gross outlays$209k<0.1%
- Health Education Assistance Loans Liquidating Account, EducationHigher education · Department of Education · $193k gross outlays$193k<0.1%
- Contributions, EducationResearch and general education aids · Department of Education · $266k gross outlays$72k<0.1%
- Gifts and Donations, National Endowment for the HumanitiesResearch and general education aids · National Endowment for the Humanities · $119k gross outlays$64k<0.1%
- Health Education Assistance Loans Program Account, EducationHigher education · Department of Education · $60k gross outlays$60k<0.1%
- Gifts and Donations, Institute of Museum and Library ServicesResearch and general education aids · Institute of Museum and Library Services · $58k gross outlays$57k<0.1%
- Gifts and Donations, National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationResearch and general education aids · National Aeronautics and Space Administration · $15k gross outlays$15k<0.1%
- Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants Program, Office of Federal Student AID, EducationHigher education · Department of Education · $57k gross outlays$12k<0.1%
Net outlays are the Monthly Treasury Statement’s, table 9. The subfunctions and agencies are the gross outlays agencies reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal year 2025; the accounts are its spending explorer’s obligations. In 2025 dollars restates each year with the CPI-U annual average of the calendar year the fiscal year ends in.