12/23/2021
- Federal contracts are agreements between the federal government and a prime recipient to provide goods and services to the government for a fee. For example, the Department of Health and Human Services awarded General Motors a $476 million contract to make ventilators.
- Financial Assistance includes grants, loans, direct payments, and other financial assistance that are made to eligible recipients for specific purposes. For example, the Department of Education funds student loans; the National Endowment for the Arts provides fellowships; and hospitals and universities receive grants for research and development.
Below are the most recent numbers for obligations (what the government has promised to pay) by the government for contracts and all financial assistance (the numbers are updated on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). The totals for Financial Assistance are so much greater than contracts because of the huge increases in unemployment benefits, along with the stimulus checks and programs like the Paycheck Protection Program. You can find all the details on our All Pandemic Awards interactive dashboard.
Page last modified:
05/23/2023