With U.S. public debt held by the public at $26.3 trillion as of October 2023 and debt-to-GDP reaching 98% in 2023, government choices are shaping both budgets and ballots in the same swing of time. Election participation was equally striking, with 66.6% turnout in the 2020 presidential election, the highest since 1900. From voting rules and spending to federal outlays and staffing, this post connects the datasets that are often kept in separate corners.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. voter turnout in the 2020 presidential election was 66.6%, highest since 1900.
- In 2020, 159.7 million Americans voted in the presidential election.
- U.S. midterm election turnout in 2022 reached 47.5% of voting-eligible population.
- In fiscal year 2023, the U.S. federal government total outlays reached $6.13 trillion, with mandatory spending accounting for $3.8 trillion or 62% of the total.
- U.S. federal discretionary spending in FY2023 was $1.7 trillion, split evenly between defense ($886 billion) and nondefense ($820 billion).
- In 2022, U.S. federal revenues totaled $4.9 trillion, with individual income taxes contributing 50% or $2.45 trillion.
- As of September 2023, the U.S. federal civilian workforce numbered 2.92 million employees.
- In 2022, U.S. federal executive branch employees totaled 2.1 million, excluding postal service.
- The U.S. Department of Defense had 775,000 civilian employees in 2023.
- In the 118th Congress (2023-2024), the U.S. House of Representatives passed 27 public laws.
- U.S. Senate confirmed 234 judicial nominees in 2023.
- From 2021-2023, Congress enacted 362 public laws.
- As of October 2023, U.S. public debt held by the public was $26.3 trillion.
- U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio reached 98% in 2023.
- Intragovernmental holdings of U.S. debt were $7.0 trillion in 2023.
U.S. turnout surged in 2020 to 66.6%, with millions using early, absentee, and mail ballots.
Related reading
01 · Category
Electoral Processes26 stats
01
U.S. voter turnout in the 2020 presidential election was 66.6%, highest since 1900.
02
In 2020, 159.7 million Americans voted in the presidential election.
03
U.S. midterm election turnout in 2022 reached 47.5% of voting-eligible population.
04
81 million votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020, 47% of total votes.
05
Donald Trump received 74 million votes in 2020, 43% of electorate.
06
Voter registration rates: 77% of citizens 18+ registered in 2020.
07
Absentee and mail-in ballots comprised 46% of votes in 2020 U.S. election.
08
Early voting used by 101 million Americans in 2020, 65% of total.
09
Youth turnout (18-29) was 55% in 2020, up from 50% in 2016.
10
Black voter turnout hit 62.6% in 2020, highest on record.
11
Hispanic turnout rose to 53.7% in 2020 from 47.7% in 2016.
12
Women cast 68% of votes in 2020, men 32%.
13
College-educated voters favored Democrats 62-37% in 2020.
14
Non-college whites voted 65-33% for Trump in 2020.
15
Campaign spending in 2020 U.S. election totaled $14.4 billion.
16
Super PACs spent $6.6 billion in 2020 federal elections.
17
FEC reported 15,000 federal candidates in 2022 cycle.
18
Ballot initiatives: 149 on ballots in 2022 across 37 states.
19
Voter ID laws in 36 states as of 2023.
20
Automatic voter registration in 24 states and DC as of 2023.
21
Ranked-choice voting used in 52 jurisdictions in 2023.
22
U.S. House incumbents reelected at 94% rate in 2022.
23
Senate incumbents won 84% in 2022 midterms.
24
Presidential approval ratings averaged 41% for Biden in 2023.
25
Gerrymandering: 187 districts rated competitive in 2022.
26
FEC enforcement cases: 2,500 in 2022.
Interpretation
Electoral Processes Interpretation
Behold the 2020 American election, where two-thirds of us, a record-breaking horde wielding mail-in ballots and powered by unprecedented youth and minority turnout, spent a staggering fourteen billion dollars to essentially renew 94% of the House's lease and maintain a near-perfect political stalemate.
02 · Category
Fiscal Policy and Budgeting30 stats
01
In fiscal year 2023, the U.S. federal government total outlays reached $6.13 trillion, with mandatory spending accounting for $3.8 trillion or 62% of the total.
02
U.S. federal discretionary spending in FY2023 was $1.7 trillion, split evenly between defense ($886 billion) and nondefense ($820 billion).
03
In 2022, U.S. federal revenues totaled $4.9 trillion, with individual income taxes contributing 50% or $2.45 trillion.
04
The U.S. Congressional Budget Office projects federal deficits to average 5.5% of GDP from 2024-2033.
05
In FY2022, U.S. federal spending on Medicare was $748 billion, representing 12% of total federal outlays.
06
U.S. federal interest payments on debt in FY2023 amounted to $659 billion, up 30% from the previous year.
07
In 2023, U.S. federal grants to state and local governments totaled $1.2 trillion, focused on health and transportation.
08
The U.S. deficit for FY2023 was $1.7 trillion, or 6.3% of GDP.
09
Federal spending on veterans' benefits in FY2023 reached $301 billion, including disability compensation.
10
U.S. federal R&D spending in FY2023 was $201 billion, with 42% allocated to health research.
11
In 2022, corporate income taxes generated $425 billion for the U.S. federal government, 9% of total revenues.
12
U.S. federal education spending in FY2023 was $79 billion at the federal level, excluding state aid.
13
Homeland security discretionary spending in FY2023 was $108 billion for the U.S. government.
14
U.S. federal housing assistance programs disbursed $54 billion in FY2022.
15
Energy and environment federal outlays in FY2023 totaled $46 billion for the U.S.
16
U.S. federal international affairs spending in FY2023 was $60 billion, including foreign aid.
17
Federal agriculture subsidies in FY2022 amounted to $28 billion in the U.S.
18
U.S. federal justice system spending in FY2023 was $58 billion.
19
Federal natural resources spending in FY2023 reached $44 billion in the U.S.
20
U.S. federal community development block grants disbursed $3.3 billion in FY2022.
21
Federal transportation outlays in FY2023 were $109 billion for highways and transit in the U.S.
22
U.S. federal food and nutrition assistance spending in FY2023 was $182 billion.
23
Federal science funding outside of health in FY2023 totaled $40 billion in the U.S.
24
U.S. federal unemployment insurance outlays peaked at $552 billion in FY2021 but fell to $32 billion in FY2023.
25
Federal earned income tax credit payments in 2022 were $73 billion in the U.S.
26
U.S. federal child tax credit expenditures reached $119 billion in 2022.
27
Federal supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) spending was $119 billion in FY2023.
28
U.S. federal Medicaid spending in FY2023 was $616 billion.
29
Federal deposit insurance fund maintained $123 billion in reserves as of 2023.
30
U.S. federal crop insurance subsidies cost $10 billion in premiums subsidized in FY2022.
Interpretation
Fiscal Policy and Budgeting Interpretation
The federal budget is running on a fiscal treadmill where mandatory spending is on autopilot, interest payments are soaring, and we're funding everything from fighter jets to food stamps with a credit card that future generations will max out.
03 · Category
Government Workforce and Administration26 stats
01
As of September 2023, the U.S. federal civilian workforce numbered 2.92 million employees.
02
In 2022, U.S. federal executive branch employees totaled 2.1 million, excluding postal service.
03
The U.S. Department of Defense had 775,000 civilian employees in 2023.
04
U.S. federal Veterans Affairs Department employed 409,000 in 2023.
05
In FY2023, U.S. federal agencies spent $23 billion on employee compensation and benefits.
06
U.S. Postal Service employed 640,000 career employees as of 2023.
07
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security had 240,000 employees in 2023.
08
Federal judicial branch employees numbered 31,000 in 2022.
09
U.S. Treasury Department workforce was 115,000 in FY2023.
10
Department of Justice employed 113,000 personnel in 2023.
11
U.S. Department of Agriculture had 100,000 employees in 2023.
12
Federal Aviation Administration workforce reached 45,000 in 2023.
13
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency employed 15,000 staff in 2023.
14
Department of Energy civilian workforce was 15,200 in 2023.
15
U.S. Department of the Interior had 70,000 employees in 2023.
16
Federal Bureau of Investigation workforce totaled 35,000 in 2023.
17
U.S. Department of Education employed 4,100 in 2023.
18
NASA workforce was 18,000 civil servants in 2023.
19
U.S. Department of Transportation had 55,000 employees in 2023.
20
Social Security Administration employed 60,000 in 2023.
21
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services workforce was 87,000 in 2023.
22
Internal Revenue Service had 80,000 employees in 2023.
23
Federal Reserve System employed 20,000 across its system in 2023.
24
U.S. Government Accountability Office had 3,100 staff in 2023.
25
Congressional Budget Office employed 270 in 2023.
26
U.S. Capitol Police force numbered 2,100 officers in 2023.
Interpretation
Government Workforce and Administration Interpretation
Behind every number lies a paradox: a massive, intricate machine of nearly three million civilian minds is how America manages everything from delivering mail and defending borders to exploring space and auditing taxes, all while somehow still arguing over the size of government.
More related reading
04 · Category
Legislative Activities25 stats
01
In the 118th Congress (2023-2024), the U.S. House of Representatives passed 27 public laws.
02
U.S. Senate confirmed 234 judicial nominees in 2023.
03
From 2021-2023, Congress enacted 362 public laws.
04
The 117th Congress (2021-2022) introduced 14,000 bills, with 365 becoming law.
05
U.S. House of Representatives held 1,200 committee hearings in 2023.
06
Senate passed 95 bills into law during the 117th Congress.
07
In 2023, Congress appropriated $1.7 trillion in the omnibus spending bill.
08
U.S. Congress enacted the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021, authorizing $1.2 trillion over 5 years.
09
The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 allocated $280 billion for semiconductors and research.
10
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 raised $738 billion in revenue while spending $391 billion on climate.
11
U.S. Congress overrode 1 presidential veto in the 20th century (last in 1986).
12
House Ways and Means Committee marked up 150 bills in 2023.
13
Senate Judiciary Committee held 120 hearings in 2023.
14
U.S. Code contains over 50 titles with 54,000 sections as of 2023.
15
Congress amended the tax code 4,680 times between 2001-2017.
16
In 2023, filibusters in the Senate delayed 250 nominations.
17
U.S. House passed 800 resolutions in 2023.
18
Bipartisan bills accounted for 65% of enacted laws in 117th Congress.
19
Congressional Review Act resolutions nullified 20 rules in 2023.
20
U.S. Congress authorized 1,200 earmarks worth $22 billion in FY2024.
21
House Oversight Committee investigated 50 topics in 2023.
22
Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act annually for 62 years straight as of 2023.
23
U.S. regulatory agenda listed 4,000 rules in 2023.
24
Congress enacted 12 appropriations bills late in FY2023 via continuing resolutions.
25
House Freedom Caucus blocked 15 bills in 2023.
Interpretation
Legislative Activities Interpretation
Judges sail through confirmation while laws crawl through Congress, suggesting our government is far more efficient at filling courtrooms than it is at solving problems.
05 · Category
Public Debt and Borrowing24 stats
01
As of October 2023, U.S. public debt held by the public was $26.3 trillion.
02
U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio reached 98% in 2023.
03
Intragovernmental holdings of U.S. debt were $7.0 trillion in 2023.
04
Foreign holders owned $7.6 trillion of U.S. public debt in June 2023.
05
Japan held $1.1 trillion in U.S. Treasury securities in 2023.
06
China held $859 billion in U.S. Treasuries as of 2023.
07
U.S. Federal Reserve held $5.3 trillion in Treasuries in 2023.
08
Average interest rate on U.S. marketable debt was 2.5% in FY2023.
09
U.S. gross federal debt hit $33.3 trillion in September 2023.
10
CBO projects U.S. debt to reach 110% of GDP by 2033.
11
U.S. Treasury issued $23 trillion in securities in FY2023.
12
Mutual funds held $4.8 trillion in U.S. Treasuries in 2023.
13
State and local governments held $1.3 trillion in federal debt in 2023.
14
U.S. pension funds owned $1.1 trillion of Treasuries in 2023.
15
Interest costs on U.S. debt projected to hit $1 trillion annually by 2028.
16
U.S. debt ceiling raised 78 times since 1960.
17
30-year Treasury bonds averaged 4.1% yield in 2023.
18
U.S. T-bills outstanding reached $5.9 trillion in 2023.
19
Corporate holdings of Treasuries were $2.2 trillion in 2023.
20
U.S. debt service coverage ratio was 4.5% of revenues in 2023.
21
IMF estimates U.S. general government gross debt at 123% of GDP in 2023.
22
U.S. Treasury cash balance averaged $700 billion in 2023.
23
Contingent liabilities like Fannie Mae added $7 trillion to U.S. debt risk in 2023.
24
U.S. net interest payments were 10.5% of federal spending in FY2023.
Interpretation
Public Debt and Borrowing Interpretation
We are living in a high-stakes financial performance where the U.S. has become masterful at selling its own IOU's to everyone from Japanese pensioners to its own future taxpayers, all while the interest meter is now sprinting toward a trillion dollars a year.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Timothy Grant. (2026, February 13). Government Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/government-statistics
MLA
Timothy Grant. "Government Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/government-statistics.
Chicago
Timothy Grant. 2026. "Government Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/government-statistics.
Sources & references
84 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level