In 2021, U.S. federal, state, and local governments spent a combined total of $9.4 trillion. This is an average of $72,391 for each household in the United States. The vast bulk of this spending was for social programs that provide healthcare, income security, education, nutrition, housing, and cultural services. These programs have grown from 30% of government outlays in 1959 to 68% in 2020.