What is the biggest federal assistance program in FY2026?

Social Security Retirement Insurance, obligating $1.4T in FY2026 (data still posting).

What is a CFDA number?

The identifier from the federal Assistance Listings catalogue (formerly the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance). Every grant, loan and direct-payment program has one, which is how the same program can be tracked across agencies and years.

Where does this ranking come from?

It is computed from USASpending.gov award records, which are U.S. government works and in the public domain. Each figure is the FY2026 (data still posting) obligations recorded against that assistance program. TheFiscalFinder does the ranking; the underlying figures are the government's own.

How many programs are shown?

The top 100 for FY2026 (data still posting). Each row opens that program's own page, where the same money is broken out by year, by counterparty and by place.

Does a high position mean anything is wrong?

No. This is a description of where public money went in FY2026 (data still posting), computed from public records. It is not an allegation about anyone on it.

Rankings

Top federal assistance programs: FY2026

FY2026 ended Sep 30 · data still posting · data as of 2026-11-01^†

† DoD contract data posts to USAspending about 90 days after award.

≈ computed · CFDA

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Social Security Retirement Insurance was the largest federal assistance program in FY2026 (data still posting), obligating $1.4T. Ranked by CFDA program — the catalogue number every federal grant, loan and direct-payment program carries. This is the named-program view of assistance spending. Computed

Ranked from USASpending records. FY2020 to FY2026 are loaded. FY2026 ended on September 30, 2026, and its records are still posting, so each total is shown beside the same name's FY2025 figure, with no percentage change. Rank vs FY2025 is each name's change in position from FY2025, and positions can still move as late FY2026 records post; a dash means the name was not in FY2025's data.

Quick findings

Computed

The top 10 account for 87% of the $4.6T combined total of all 100 programs listed.
Overseas Refugee Assistance Programs for Africa rose the most, from #802 in FY2025 to #92 in FY2026.
Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail fell the most among those listed, from #26 in FY2025 to #83 in FY2026.
The Department of Health and Human Services is the largest funding agency for 30 of the 100 programs listed.

Rank	Name	FY2026 · data still posting	FY2025	Rank vs FY2025
01	Social Security Retirement InsuranceAssistance Listing 96.002	$1.4T	$1.3T	same
02	Grants to States for MedicaidAssistance Listing 93.778	$721.7B	$666.1B	same
03	Medicare Supplementary Medical InsuranceAssistance Listing 93.774	$607.9B	$568.6B	same
04	Medicare Hospital InsuranceAssistance Listing 93.773	$456.4B	$432.5B	same
05	Medicare Prescription Drug CoverageAssistance Listing 93.770	$197.7B	$162.5B	▲ 1
06	Veterans Compensation for Service-Connected DisabilityAssistance Listing 64.109	$196B	$174.1B	▼ 1
07	Social Security Disability InsuranceAssistance Listing 96.001	$159.7B	$157.3B	same
08	Social Security Survivors InsuranceAssistance Listing 96.004	$118B	$114.9B	same
09	Supplemental Nutrition Assistance ProgramAssistance Listing 10.551	$84.5B	$87.1B	same
10	Supplemental Security IncomeAssistance Listing 96.006	$65.9B	$64.5B	▲ 1
11	Federal Pell Grant ProgramAssistance Listing 84.063	$38.8B	$40B	▲ 1
12	Section 8 Housing Choice VouchersAssistance Listing 14.871	$36.3B	$37.6B	▲ 1
13	National School Lunch ProgramAssistance Listing 10.555	$28B	$27.7B	▲ 2
14	Children's Health Insurance ProgramAssistance Listing 93.767	$22.4B	$20.5B	▲ 2
15	Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (Presidentially Declared Disasters)Assistance Listing 97.036	$20B	$28.3B	▼ 1
16	Highway Planning and ConstructionAssistance Listing 20.205	$18.7B	$67.4B	▼ 6
17	Title I Grants to Local Educational AgenciesAssistance Listing 84.010	$18.4B	$18.3B	same
18	Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)Assistance Listing 14.195	$18B	$16.7B	▲ 2
19	Temporary Assistance for Needy FamiliesAssistance Listing 93.558	$17B	$17B	▼ 1
20	National Highway Performance Program (NHPP)Assistance Listing 20.279	$16.8B	—	—
21	Surface Transportation Block Grant ProgramAssistance Listing 20.287	$14.9B	—	—
22	Social Insurance for Railroad WorkersAssistance Listing 57.001	$14.7B	$14.5B	same
23	Special Education Grants to StatesAssistance Listing 84.027	$14.3B	$14.1B	same
24	1332 State Innovation WaiversAssistance Listing 93.423	$11.9B	$16.1B	▼ 3
25	Head StartAssistance Listing 93.600	$11.6B	$11.8B	▼ 1
26	Post-9/11 Veterans Educational AssistanceAssistance Listing 64.028	$11.5B	$10.8B	▼ 1
27	Veterans Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Service-Connected DeathAssistance Listing 64.110	$11B	$10.3B	same
28	Rural Health Transformation ProgramAssistance Listing 93.798	$10B	—	—
29	Drinking Water State Revolving FundAssistance Listing 66.468	$8.8B	$6B	▲ 12
30	Child Care and Development Block GrantAssistance Listing 93.575	$8.4B	$8.6B	▲ 3
31	WIC Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Assistance Listing 10.557	$8.3B	$7.5B	▲ 5
32	Federal Transit Formula GrantsAssistance Listing 20.507	$8.2B	$9.8B	▼ 3
33	State Border Security Reinforcement FundAssistance Listing 97.159	$7.5B	—	—
34	Supplemental Disaster Relief ProgramAssistance Listing 10.988	$7.3B	$5.7B	▲ 9
35	Basic Health Program (Affordable Care Act)Assistance Listing 93.640	$7.2B	$976.8M	▲ 97
36	Foster Care Title IV-EAssistance Listing 93.658	$7.1B	$4B	▲ 18
37	National Railroad Passenger Corporation GrantsAssistance Listing 20.315	$6.7B	$6.7B	same
38	State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance ProgramAssistance Listing 10.561	$6.1B	$6.7B	same
39	Bridge Formula ProgramAssistance Listing 20.263	$6.1B	—	—
40	Child Support EnforcementAssistance Listing 93.563	$5.9B	$4.6B	▲ 10
41	Adoption AssistanceAssistance Listing 93.659	$5.6B	$3.1B	▲ 22
42	Health Center ProgramAssistance Listing 93.224	$5.3B	$5.3B	▲ 3
43	UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND - SCHOOLS and LIBRARIESAssistance Listing 32.004	$4.9B	$1.9B	▲ 39
44	Public Housing Operating FundAssistance Listing 14.850	$4.8B	$5.3B	same
45	Tribal Self-Governance Program: IHS Compacts/Funding Agreements Assistance Listing 93.210	$4.8B	$3.8B	▲ 13
46	State of Good Repair Grants ProgramAssistance Listing 20.525	$4.6B	$4.4B	▲ 5
47	Clean Water State Revolving FundAssistance Listing 66.458	$4.4B	$4.6B	▲ 1
48	Airport Improvement ProgramAssistance Listing 20.116	$4.2B	—	—
49	Rehabilitation Services Vocational Rehabilitation Grants to StatesAssistance Listing 84.126	$4.2B	$3.9B	▲ 7
50	Pension Plan Termination InsuranceAssistance Listing 86.001	$4.2B	$6.3B	▼ 11
51	Allergy and Infectious Diseases ResearchAssistance Listing 93.855	$4B	$4.2B	▲ 1
52	Farmer Bridge Assistance ProgramAssistance Listing 10.990	$4B	—	—
53	Aging ResearchAssistance Listing 93.866	$3.9B	$3.9B	▲ 4
54	Low-Income Home Energy AssistanceAssistance Listing 93.568	$3.8B	$4.1B	▼ 1
55	Universal Service Fund - High CostAssistance Listing 32.002	$3.7B	$1.2B	▲ 62
56	Global Health Security and Transition of Life-saving ServicesAssistance Listing 19.046	$3.7B	—	—
57	Bridge Investment ProgramAssistance Listing 20.264	$3.6B	—	—
58	Community Development Block Grants/State's program and Non-Entitlement Grants in HawaiiAssistance Listing 14.228	$3.5B	$9.9B	▼ 30
59	Child Care Mandatory and Matching Funds of the Child Care and Development FundAssistance Listing 93.596	$3.4B	$2.2B	▲ 16
60	Airport Infrastructure GrantsAssistance Listing 20.117	$3.3B	—	—
61	Survivors and Dependents Educational AssistanceAssistance Listing 64.117	$3.3B	$2.5B	▲ 11
62	Public Housing Capital FundAssistance Listing 14.872	$3.3B	$3.2B	▼ 1
63	Cardiovascular Diseases ResearchAssistance Listing 93.837	$3.1B	$3.1B	▼ 1
64	Biomedical Research and Research TrainingAssistance Listing 93.859	$3B	$3B	same
65	Nutrition Assistance For Puerto RicoAssistance Listing 10.566	$3B	$2.9B	▲ 2
66	Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)Assistance Listing 20.272	$2.9B	—	—
67	Refugee and Entrant Assistance State/Replacement Designee Administered ProgramsAssistance Listing 93.566	$2.9B	$2.6B	▲ 4
68	Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant ProgramAssistance Listing 20.340	$2.7B	—	—
69	Continuum of Care Program Assistance Listing 14.267	$2.6B	$3.4B	▼ 10
70	National Guard Military Operations and Maintenance (O&M) ProjectsAssistance Listing 12.401	$2.6B	$2.4B	▲ 3
71	Contributions to International Organizations- CIOAssistance Listing 19.790	$2.5B	$625.1M	▲ 103
72	Buses and Bus Facilities Formula, Competitive, and Low or No Emissions ProgramsAssistance Listing 20.526	$2.4B	$2.3B	▲ 2
73	Veterans State Nursing Home CareAssistance Listing 64.015	$2.3B	$2B	▲ 5
74	Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants (formerly Improving Teacher Quality State Grants)Assistance Listing 84.367	$2.2B	$2.2B	▲ 2
75	Unemployment InsuranceAssistance Listing 17.225	$2.1B	$2.7B	▼ 6
76	International Disaster and Humanitarian ResponseAssistance Listing 19.045	$2.1B	—	—
77	Emergency Relief (ER) ProgramAssistance Listing 20.271	$2.1B	—	—
78	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural ResearchAssistance Listing 93.847	$2B	$2B	▼ 1
79	Community Development Block Grants/Entitlement GrantsAssistance Listing 14.218	$2B	$2B	same
80	Environmental Quality Incentives ProgramAssistance Listing 10.912	$2B	$1.5B	▲ 14
81	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological DisordersAssistance Listing 93.853	$2B	$1.8B	▲ 2
82	Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for ChildrenAssistance Listing 10.646	$2B	$2.9B	▼ 14
83	Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger RailAssistance Listing 20.326	$1.9B	$10.6B	▼ 57
84	Nationally Significant Freight and Highway ProjectsAssistance Listing 20.934	$1.9B	$1.4B	▲ 15
85	Block Grants for Prevention and Treatment of Substance AbuseAssistance Listing 93.959	$1.9B	$1.7B	▲ 1
86	National Infrastructure Investments Assistance Listing 20.933	$1.9B	$898.2M	▲ 55
87	Federal Transit Capital Investment GrantsAssistance Listing 20.500	$1.9B	$4B	▼ 32
88	Hazard Mitigation GrantAssistance Listing 97.039	$1.8B	$1.1B	▲ 34
89	Mental Health Research GrantsAssistance Listing 93.242	$1.8B	$1.8B	▼ 5
90	Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements ProgramAssistance Listing 20.337	$1.8B	—	—
91	Rural Rental Assistance PaymentsAssistance Listing 10.427	$1.7B	$1.6B	▼ 3
92	Overseas Refugee Assistance Programs for AfricaAssistance Listing 19.517	$1.6B	$20.3M	▲ 710
93	Pension for Non-Service-Connected Disability for VeteransAssistance Listing 64.104	$1.6B	$1.8B	▼ 8
94	Social Services Block GrantAssistance Listing 93.667	$1.6B	$1.6B	▼ 4
95	Impact AidAssistance Listing 84.041	$1.6B	$1.6B	▼ 4
96	Drug Use and Addiction Research ProgramsAssistance Listing 93.279	$1.5B	$1.5B	▼ 4
97	Veteran Readiness and EmploymentAssistance Listing 64.116	$1.5B	$1.2B	▲ 15
98	Opioid STRAssistance Listing 93.788	$1.5B	$282.1M	▲ 170
99	ChampvaAssistance Listing 64.039	$1.5B	$1.9B	▼ 18
100	National Electric Vehicle InfrastructureAssistance Listing 20.277	$1.4B	—	—

A program's obligations are usually routed through state agencies or institutions, which appear as the recipients of record. The program page shows both ends.

Questions

What is the biggest federal assistance program in FY2026?: Social Security Retirement Insurance, obligating $1.4T in FY2026 (data still posting).
What is a CFDA number?: The identifier from the federal Assistance Listings catalogue (formerly the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance). Every grant, loan and direct-payment program has one, which is how the same program can be tracked across agencies and years.
Where does this ranking come from?: It is computed from USASpending.gov award records, which are U.S. government works and in the public domain. Each figure is the FY2026 (data still posting) obligations recorded against that assistance program. TheFiscalFinder does the ranking; the underlying figures are the government's own.
How many programs are shown?: The top 100 for FY2026 (data still posting). Each row opens that program's own page, where the same money is broken out by year, by counterparty and by place.
Does a high position mean anything is wrong?: No. This is a description of where public money went in FY2026 (data still posting), computed from public records. It is not an allegation about anyone on it.

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Why the labels? The graph is only worth anything if the links are trusted. Facts taken straight from a federal filing are Source; figures we calculate are Computed; links we infer (corporate parents, districts, similar contractors, connections between records) are Inferred, worded carefully, never asserted as fact and never a claim that one thing caused another. Spot an error? Tell us.