Rankings
Top federal sub-agencies by spending: FY2022
FY2022 · complete year · data as of 2026-07-11
≈ computed · obligations
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services obligated $1.5T in FY2022, the largest of any federal sub-agency. The bureaus, commands and administrations INSIDE the departments: the level at which spending decisions are actually made, and the level most spending coverage skips. Computed
Ranked from USASpending records. FY2020 to FY2026 are loaded. Rank vs FY2021 is each name's change in position from FY2021; a dash means the name was not in FY2021's data.
Quick findings
Computed- The top 10 account for 80% of the $4.6T combined total of all 100 sub-agencies listed.
- Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation rose the most, from #101 in FY2021 to #38 in FY2022.
- Departmental Offices fell the most among those listed, from #3 in FY2021 to #25 in FY2022.
| Rank | Name | FY2022 | FY2021 | Change | Rank vs FY2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Serviceswithin Health and Human Services | $1.5T | $1.4T | +11% | same |
| 02 | Social Security Administrationwithin Social Security Administration | $1.3T | $1.2T | +7% | same |
| 03 | Food and Nutrition Servicewithin Agriculture | $182.5B | $174.6B | +5% | ▲ 3 |
| 04 | Under Secretary for Benefits/Veterans Benefits Administrationwithin Veterans Affairs | $146.2B | $122.5B | +19% | ▲ 4 |
| 05 | Department of the Navywithin Defense | $124.8B | $112.7B | +11% | ▲ 5 |
| 06 | Department of the Armywithin Defense | $119B | $114.5B | +4% | ▲ 3 |
| 07 | Department of Educationwithin Education | $99B | $313.1B | −68% | ▼ 2 |
| 08 | Under Secretary for Health/Veterans Health Administrationwithin Veterans Affairs | $88.1B | $84B | +5% | ▲ 3 |
| 09 | Department of the Air Forcewithin Defense | $79.9B | $80.3B | −1% | ▲ 3 |
| 10 | Administration for Children and Familieswithin Health and Human Services | $66.7B | $123.6B | −46% | ▼ 3 |
| 11 | Federal Highway Administrationwithin Transportation | $63.7B | $51.4B | +24% | ▲ 3 |
| 12 | Department of Veterans Affairswithin Veterans Affairs | $56.4B | $47.7B | +18% | ▲ 5 |
| 13 | Health Resources and Services Administrationwithin Health and Human Services | $51.2B | $49.6B | +3% | ▲ 2 |
| 14 | Defense Logistics Agencywithin Defense | $48.3B | $39.1B | +24% | ▲ 7 |
| 15 | Department of Energywithin Energy | $47.4B | $42.4B | +12% | ▲ 4 |
| 16 | Federal Emergency Management Agencywithin Homeland Security | $43.5B | $48.5B | −10% | same |
| 17 | National Institutes of Healthwithin Health and Human Services | $43.2B | $40.1B | +8% | ▲ 3 |
| 18 | Federal Transit Administrationwithin Transportation | $40.7B | $31B | +31% | ▲ 5 |
| 19 | Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housingwithin Housing and Urban Development | $37.3B | $36.3B | +3% | ▲ 3 |
| 20 | Agency for International Developmentwithin Agency for International Development | $36.1B | $23.3B | +55% | ▲ 5 |
| 21 | Department of Statewithin State | $23.2B | $20.2B | +15% | ▲ 6 |
| 22 | National Aeronautics and Space Administrationwithin National Aeronautics and Space Administration | $21.3B | $20.4B | +4% | ▲ 4 |
| 23 | Small Business Administrationwithin Small Business Administration | $21.2B | $334.1B | −94% | ▼ 19 |
| 24 | Federal Communications Commissionwithin Federal Communications Commission | $21B | $7.8B | +170% | ▲ 13 |
| 25 | Departmental Officeswithin the Treasury | $20.3B | $439.2B | −95% | ▼ 22 |
| 26 | Centers for Disease Control and Preventionwithin Health and Human Services | $18.2B | $57.2B | −68% | ▼ 13 |
| 27 | Defense Health Agencywithin Defense | $17.8B | $16B | +11% | ▲ 1 |
| 28 | Federal Acquisition Servicewithin General Services Administration | $17.6B | $14.7B | +19% | ▲ 2 |
| 29 | Risk Management Agencywithin Agriculture | $14.1B | $1.9B | +650% | ▲ 41 |
| 30 | Railroad Retirement Boardwithin Railroad Retirement Board | $13.6B | $13.5B | +1% | ▲ 2 |
| 31 | Federal Aviation Administrationwithin Transportation | $13.1B | $15.4B | −15% | ▼ 2 |
| 32 | Farm Service Agencywithin Agriculture | $12B | $25.6B | −53% | ▼ 8 |
| 33 | Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Developmentwithin Housing and Urban Development | $10.1B | $43.7B | −77% | ▼ 15 |
| 34 | Missile Defense Agencywithin Defense | $9.8B | $8.8B | +12% | same |
| 35 | Environmental Protection Agencywithin Environmental Protection Agency | $9.5B | $6.1B | +55% | ▲ 3 |
| 36 | National Science Foundationwithin National Science Foundation | $8.8B | $8.4B | +5% | same |
| 37 | Employment and Training Administrationwithin Labor | $8.7B | $13.8B | −37% | ▼ 6 |
| 38 | Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporationwithin Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation | $8.2B | $605.5M | — | ▲ 63 |
| 39 | Federal Railroad Administrationwithin Transportation | $7.2B | $6B | +20% | ▲ 2 |
| 40 | Defense Information Systems Agencywithin Defense | $6.3B | $6B | +4% | same |
| 41 | Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing Commissionerwithin Housing and Urban Development | $6.3B | $2.3B | +170% | ▲ 22 |
| 42 | Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrationwithin Health and Human Services | $6.1B | $13B | −53% | ▼ 9 |
| 43 | Agricultural Marketing Servicewithin Agriculture | $5.7B | $6.1B | −7% | ▼ 4 |
| 44 | Indian Health Servicewithin Health and Human Services | $5.7B | $8.7B | −35% | ▼ 9 |
| 45 | Office of Justice Programswithin Justice | $5.6B | $2.6B | +118% | ▲ 13 |
| 46 | United States Mintwithin the Treasury | $4.7B | $4.8B | −3% | ▼ 1 |
| 47 | U.S. Customs and Border Protectionwithin Homeland Security | $4.7B | $3.5B | +33% | ▲ 3 |
| 48 | Forest Servicewithin Agriculture | $4.6B | $3B | +53% | ▲ 8 |
| 49 | U.S. Special Operations Commandwithin Defense | $4.4B | $4.5B | −3% | ▼ 3 |
| 50 | Office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Responsewithin Health and Human Services | $4.4B | $4.9B | −10% | ▼ 6 |
| 51 | Ustranscomwithin Defense | $4.2B | $3.9B | +9% | ▼ 3 |
| 52 | Natural Resources Conservation Servicewithin Agriculture | $4.2B | $4.9B | −15% | ▼ 9 |
| 53 | U.S. Coast Guardwithin Homeland Security | $3.6B | $3.8B | −5% | ▼ 4 |
| 54 | Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Educationwithin the Interior | $3.6B | $5.3B | −33% | ▼ 12 |
| 55 | Office of Procurement Operationswithin Homeland Security | $3.5B | $3.5B | +1% | ▼ 4 |
| 56 | Economic Development Administrationwithin Commerce | $3.4B | $1.2B | +181% | ▲ 23 |
| 57 | Public Buildings Servicewithin General Services Administration | $3.4B | $3.4B | −1% | ▼ 5 |
| 58 | Internal Revenue Servicewithin the Treasury | $3.1B | $3B | +5% | ▼ 3 |
| 59 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationwithin Commerce | $3.1B | $3.2B | −2% | ▼ 6 |
| 60 | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcementwithin Homeland Security | $2.9B | $2.5B | +13% | ▼ 1 |
| 61 | Departmental Officeswithin the Interior | $2.8B | $1.7B | +68% | ▲ 13 |
| 62 | Offices, Boards and Divisionswithin Justice | $2.8B | $2.1B | +30% | ▲ 3 |
| 63 | Administration for Community Livingwithin Health and Human Services | $2.6B | $4.1B | −36% | ▼ 16 |
| 64 | Washington Headquarters Serviceswithin Defense | $2.6B | $2.6B | 0% | ▼ 7 |
| 65 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicewithin the Interior | $2.4B | $2B | +19% | ▲ 2 |
| 66 | Federal Bureau of Investigationwithin Justice | $2.3B | $2.4B | −2% | ▼ 4 |
| 67 | Rural Utilities Servicewithin Agriculture | $2.3B | $1.3B | +71% | ▲ 10 |
| 68 | Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Managementwithin Labor | $2.3B | $2.5B | −7% | ▼ 7 |
| 69 | Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisonswithin Justice | $2.1B | $2.5B | −15% | ▼ 9 |
| 70 | Food and Drug Administrationwithin Health and Human Services | $2.1B | $1.9B | +9% | ▼ 2 |
| 71 | Rural Housing Servicewithin Agriculture | $2.1B | $1.8B | +18% | ▲ 2 |
| 72 | Transportation Security Administrationwithin Homeland Security | $1.9B | $2.1B | −9% | ▼ 8 |
| 73 | Defense Advanced Research Projects Agencywithin Defense | $1.9B | $1.8B | +7% | ▼ 2 |
| 74 | National Institute of Food and Agriculturewithin Agriculture | $1.9B | $1.9B | −2% | ▼ 5 |
| 75 | Bureau of Reclamationwithin the Interior | $1.8B | $1B | +83% | ▲ 8 |
| 76 | National Park Servicewithin the Interior | $1.8B | $1.6B | +13% | ▼ 1 |
| 77 | Maritime Administrationwithin Transportation | $1.7B | $1.8B | −4% | ▼ 5 |
| 78 | Office of the Chief Financial Officerwithin Agriculture | $1.5B | $1.1B | +36% | ▲ 2 |
| 79 | National Telecommunications and Information Administrationwithin Commerce | $1.4B | — | — | — |
| 80 | U.S. Marshals Servicewithin Justice | $1.3B | $1.3B | +5% | ▼ 2 |
| 81 | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Serviceswithin Homeland Security | $1.3B | $1.1B | +15% | same |
| 82 | National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationwithin Transportation | $1.2B | $915.9M | +27% | ▲ 7 |
| 83 | Rural Business Cooperative Servicewithin Agriculture | $1.1B | $263.4M | +326% | ▲ 40 |
| 84 | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Servicewithin Agriculture | $1.1B | $579.6M | +92% | ▲ 20 |
| 85 | Defense Threat Reduction Agencywithin Defense | $1B | $989.4M | +1% | same |
| 86 | U.S. International Development Finance Corporationwithin U.S. International Development Finance Corporation | $971.1M | $2B | −53% | ▼ 20 |
| 87 | U.S. Patent and Trademark Officewithin Commerce | $969M | $974.4M | −1% | ▼ 1 |
| 88 | Corporation for National and Community Servicewithin Corporation for National and Community Service | $947.7M | $934.5M | +1% | same |
| 89 | Immediate Office of the Secretary of Transportationwithin Transportation | $905.5M | $1B | −10% | ▼ 5 |
| 90 | Defense Microelectronics Activitywithin Defense | $903.2M | $1.1B | −19% | ▼ 8 |
| 91 | National Institute of Standards and Technologywithin Commerce | $902.6M | $776.4M | +16% | ▲ 2 |
| 92 | U.S. Geological Surveywithin the Interior | $783.3M | $591.2M | +33% | ▲ 11 |
| 93 | Department of Housing and Urban Developmentwithin Housing and Urban Development | $708.5M | $683.7M | +4% | ▲ 3 |
| 94 | Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agencywithin Defense | $701.4M | $833M | −16% | ▼ 3 |
| 95 | Foreign Agricultural Servicewithin Agriculture | $697.9M | $738.8M | −6% | ▼ 1 |
| 96 | Bureau of Land Managementwithin the Interior | $686M | $634.9M | +8% | ▲ 3 |
| 97 | Office of the Secretarywithin Commerce | $672.3M | $565.9M | +19% | ▲ 9 |
| 98 | Immediate Office of the Secretary of Defensewithin Defense | $667.9M | $243.5M | +174% | ▲ 27 |
| 99 | Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrationwithin Transportation | $638.8M | $446.1M | +43% | ▲ 10 |
| 100 | Bureau of the Fiscal Servicewithin the Treasury | $638.8M | $594.5M | +7% | ▲ 2 |
Sub-agencies have no page of their own; each row opens its parent department, where the full sub-agency breakdown lives. Not every loaded year carries this breakdown.
Questions
- Which federal sub-agency spends the most in FY2022?
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, with $1.5T obligated in FY2022.
- What counts as a sub-agency?
- A sub-tier organisation reporting to a cabinet department or independent agency: a bureau, a military command, an administration. USASpending records both tiers on every award.
- 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 sub-agency's obligations for FY2022. TheFiscalFinder does the ranking; the underlying figures are the government's own.
- How many sub-agencies are shown?
- The top 100 for FY2022. Each row opens that sub-agencie'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 FY2022, computed from public records. It is not an allegation about anyone on it.
Related rankings
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.