Total Federal Spending
$27.7B
FY2025 obligations
Nebraska Federal Spending
$27.7B in FY2025 federal spending, $14,140 per capita.
$27.7B total · $14,140 per capita · FY2025 · Ranked #41 total, #26 per capita · 9.6% below national avg
In FY2025, Nebraska received $27.7B in federal spending - $14,140 per capita, ranking #26 among 57 states and 9.6% below the national average. The most common award type is direct payments, accounting for 84.0% of tracked awards. The top spending agency is Department of Health and Human Services.
Nebraska · FY2025
Nebraska received $27.7B in federal spending in FY2025 - $14,140 per resident, 9.6% below the national average, with direct payments the largest award category.
- Total federal spending
- $27.7B
- #41 of 57 states
- Per resident
- $14,140
- #26 per capita
- Counties receiving funds
- 93
- place of performance
- Top agency
- Dept. of Health and Human Services
- $10.1B
According to USASpending.gov, the official federal award-transaction dataset, the federal government directed $27.7B to Nebraska in FY2025, translating to $14,140 per resident across a population of 1,961,504. That per-capita figure is 9.6% below the $15,647 national average and ranks Nebraska #26 of 57 states per capita, while total-dollar rank is #41, illustrating the difference between volume of federal dollars and intensity of federal dependence.
The award-type mix shows how federal awards break down in Nebraska by count: 19,107 contracts, 5,040 grants, 3,620 loans, and 172,997 direct payments. The most common award type is direct payments at 84.0% of tracked awards in the state, with contracts a distant second at 19,107 awards. Department of Health and Human Services is the single largest federal agency operating in Nebraska, with $10.1B in obligations - more than Social Security Administration's $9.0B.
Over the available history, federal spending in Nebraska has grown 11.6% from $24.8B in FY2020 to $27.7B in FY2025. Combined with 93 counties receiving dollars and top recipient Nebraska Department of Health && Human Services at $4.2B, this snapshot lets readers judge whether Nebraska's federal footprint is expanding, stable, or being scaled back relative to FY2025.
It helps to read state totals through two different lenses. Total dollars measure the raw volume of federal money flowing into a state, which naturally favors larger and more populous states. Per-capita spending measures intensity, how much federal money lands per resident, and it surfaces smaller states whose economies lean heavily on federal installations, contracts, or transfer payments. The two rankings often disagree, which is exactly why both appear above. The award mix matters too: contracts signal procurement of goods and services, grants flow to universities, nonprofits, and local governments, and direct payments include programs such as Social Security and Medicare that scale with population. Every figure comes from USASpending.gov, the federal spending-transparency system the U.S. Treasury has operated since the DATA Act of 2014. Federal outlays exceeded $7.0 trillion in fiscal year 2025 (CBO Monthly Budget Review), and these are official government records rather than estimates, though late-posted and corrected awards can adjust a state's totals after the year closes. Our methodology details the per-capita denominator, the award categories, and the data vintage.
Source: USAspending.gov, Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) + System for Award Management (SAM) Nebraska federal awards (contracts, grants, loans, direct payments) for FY2025 · 2025 USAspending.gov publishes award-level data within ~30 days of obligation; categories follow OMB Object Class Codes. Per-capita metrics use Census ACS population estimates as the denominator.
Key Statistics
Total Spending
$27.7B
Rank #41
Per Capita
$14,140
Rank #26
Population
1,961,504
Contract Awards
19,107
Grant Awards
5,040
Per Capita
$14,140
Rank #26
Counties Receiving
93
federal dollars
Top Agency Share
$10.1B
Department of Health and Human
Nebraska award-type mix by count (FY2025)
Nebraska per-capita federal spending vs. national average 75.3%
National average
Compared against the national average of $15,647 per resident.
Awards by Type
Direct Payments is the most common award type at 84.0% of tracked awards in Nebraska (by count, not dollar value).
Direct Payments 172,997 awards (84.0%)
Contracts 19,107 awards (9.3%)
Other 5,166 awards (2.5%)
Grants 5,040 awards (2.4%)
Loans 3,620 awards (1.8%)
Comparison to National Average
| Metric | Nebraska | National Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per Capita Spending | $14,140 | $15,647 | -9.6% |
| Contracts Share | 0.0% | - | - |
| Grants Share | 0.0% | - | - |
Top Federal Agencies in Nebraska
Federal agencies ranked by total spending in Nebraska during FY2025.
| # | Agency | Spending | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Department of Health and Human Services | $10.1B | 36.5% |
| 2 | Social Security Administration | $9.0B | 32.6% |
| 3 | Department of Agriculture | $2.2B | 7.9% |
| 4 | Department of Veterans Affairs | $1.5B | 5.4% |
| 5 | Department of Education | $717.5M | 2.6% |
| 6 | Department of Transportation | $687.7M | 2.5% |
| 7 | Department of Defense | $657.2M | 2.4% |
| 8 | Railroad Retirement Board | $515.4M | 1.9% |
| 9 | Federal Communications Commission | $479.7M | 1.7% |
| 10 | Environmental Protection Agency | $461.7M | 1.7% |
Top Recipients in Nebraska
Organizations and entities receiving the most federal funds in Nebraska.
| # | Recipient | Total Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nebraska Department of Health && Human Services | $4.2B |
| 2 | Nebraska Department of Transportation | $869.1M |
| 3 | Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment | $551.5M |
| 4 | NE Colorado Cellular, INC. | $437.8M |
| 5 | Department of Education Nebraska | $408.6M |
| 6 | Native Cdfi Network INC | $400.0M |
| 7 | Great Plains Communications LLC | $387.2M |
| 8 | Nebraska Electric G&t Coop | $200.0M |
| 9 | Nelnet Servicing LLC | $184.0M |
| 10 | Metgreen Solutions INC | $174.3M |
| 11 | Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska | $122.0M |
| 12 | Consolidated Telephone Company | $105.0M |
| 13 | Department of Military Nebraska | $88.1M |
| 14 | Peraton Enterprise Solutions LLC | $81.7M |
| 15 | All Native Synergies Company | $72.3M |
| 16 | Dalton Telephone CO, LLC | $64.7M |
Spending Trends
Federal spending in Nebraska increased 11.6% from FY2020 to FY2025.
| Fiscal Year | Total Spending | Per Capita | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | $27.7B | $14,140 | 1,961,504 |
| FY2024 | $23.3B | $11,880 | 1,961,504 |
| FY2023 | $23.0B | $11,735 | 1,961,504 |
| FY2022 | $22.6B | $11,542 | 1,961,504 |
| FY2021 | $26.5B | $13,499 | 1,961,504 |
| FY2020 | $24.8B | $12,668 | 1,961,504 |
Counties in Nebraska
93 counties ranked by federal spending in FY2025.
| # | County | Total Spending | Per Capita | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Douglas County | $9.3B | $15,987 | 584,526 |
| 2 | Lancaster County | $3.1B | $9,515 | 322,608 |
| 3 | Sarpy County | $1.7B | $8,801 | 190,604 |
| 4 | Madison County | $417.9M | $11,743 | 35,585 |
| 5 | Platte County | $414.6M | $12,089 | 34,296 |
| 6 | Hall County | $372.3M | $5,919 | 62,895 |
| 7 | Buffalo County | $351.7M | $7,023 | 50,084 |
| 8 | Lincoln County | $324.6M | $9,362 | 34,676 |
| 9 | Scotts Bluff County | $297.0M | $8,232 | 36,084 |
| 10 | Dodge County | $272.4M | $7,328 | 37,167 |
| 11 | Adams County | $238.0M | $7,627 | 31,205 |
| 12 | Thurston County | $233.8M | $34,512 | 6,773 |
| 13 | Cass County | $208.9M | $7,855 | 26,598 |
| 14 | Gage County | $202.1M | $9,312 | 21,704 |
| 15 | Saunders County | $160.6M | $7,207 | 22,278 |
| 16 | Washington County | $151.3M | $7,253 | 20,865 |
| 17 | Dawson County | $147.5M | $6,116 | 24,111 |
| 18 | Seward County | $144.6M | $8,214 | 17,609 |
| 19 | Otoe County | $127.9M | $8,041 | 15,912 |
| 20 | Dakota County | $123.9M | $5,741 | 21,582 |
| 21 | York County | $121.1M | $8,573 | 14,125 |
| 22 | Box Butte County | $117.2M | $10,809 | 10,842 |
| 23 | Keith County | $103.8M | $12,449 | 8,335 |
| 24 | Custer County | $102.8M | $9,753 | 10,545 |
| 25 | Red Willow County | $99.6M | $9,309 | 10,702 |
| 26 | Saline County | $98.8M | $6,913 | 14,292 |
| 27 | Cheyenne County | $97.0M | $10,240 | 9,468 |
| 28 | Cuming County | $95.8M | $10,624 | 9,013 |
| 29 | Knox County | $94.7M | $11,291 | 8,391 |
| 30 | Holt County | $89.6M | $8,847 | 10,127 |
| 31 | Hamilton County | $88.5M | $9,381 | 9,429 |
| 32 | Wayne County | $86.0M | $8,868 | 9,697 |
| 33 | Phelps County | $84.2M | $9,386 | 8,968 |
| 34 | Cedar County | $82.5M | $9,842 | 8,380 |
| 35 | Dawes County | $81.1M | $9,892 | 8,199 |
| 36 | Fillmore County | $80.7M | $14,532 | 5,551 |
| 37 | Butler County | $77.7M | $9,280 | 8,369 |
| 38 | Jefferson County | $76.3M | $10,535 | 7,240 |
| 39 | Burt County | $73.9M | $10,995 | 6,722 |
| 40 | Antelope County | $71.8M | $11,406 | 6,295 |
| 41 | Richardson County | $70.1M | $8,912 | 7,871 |
| 42 | Clay County | $69.7M | $11,411 | 6,104 |
| 43 | Howard County | $69.4M | $10,716 | 6,475 |
| 44 | Furnas County | $65.8M | $14,201 | 4,636 |
| 45 | Thayer County | $64.1M | $12,740 | 5,034 |
| 46 | Kearney County | $62.1M | $9,278 | 6,688 |
| 47 | Merrick County | $61.6M | $8,030 | 7,668 |
| 48 | Nemaha County | $61.4M | $8,684 | 7,074 |
| 49 | Boone County | $60.3M | $11,216 | 5,379 |
| 50 | Colfax County | $59.9M | $5,660 | 10,582 |
| 51 | Polk County | $59.2M | $11,358 | 5,214 |
| 52 | Pierce County | $55.8M | $7,625 | 7,317 |
| 53 | Nuckolls County | $53.9M | $13,164 | 4,095 |
| 54 | Dixon County | $52.8M | $9,414 | 5,606 |
| 55 | Sheridan County | $50.2M | $9,796 | 5,127 |
| 56 | Cherry County | $46.0M | $8,440 | 5,455 |
| 57 | Kimball County | $45.6M | $13,282 | 3,434 |
| 58 | Stanton County | $45.2M | $7,741 | 5,842 |
| 59 | Harlan County | $45.0M | $14,641 | 3,073 |
| 60 | Chase County | $42.3M | $10,862 | 3,893 |
| 61 | Perkins County | $42.1M | $14,744 | 2,858 |
| 62 | Frontier County | $42.1M | $16,706 | 2,519 |
| 63 | Webster County | $39.0M | $11,480 | 3,395 |
| 64 | Valley County | $38.6M | $9,505 | 4,059 |
| 65 | Johnson County | $35.0M | $6,607 | 5,290 |
| 66 | Morrill County | $33.9M | $7,433 | 4,555 |
| 67 | Pawnee County | $32.8M | $12,907 | 2,544 |
| 68 | Franklin County | $32.1M | $11,119 | 2,889 |
| 69 | Boyd County | $31.2M | $17,245 | 1,810 |
| 70 | Sherman County | $30.7M | $10,371 | 2,959 |
| 71 | Deuel County | $30.3M | $16,477 | 1,838 |
| 72 | Brown County | $27.9M | $9,606 | 2,903 |
| 73 | Hitchcock County | $27.6M | $10,533 | 2,616 |
| 74 | Gosper County | $27.0M | $14,248 | 1,893 |
| 75 | Greeley County | $22.0M | $10,044 | 2,188 |
| 76 | Garden County | $22.0M | $11,724 | 1,874 |
| 77 | Nance County | $21.7M | $6,426 | 3,380 |
| 78 | Keya Paha County | $19.0M | $24,700 | 769 |
| 79 | Banner County | $18.0M | $26,640 | 674 |
| 80 | Dundy County | $17.2M | $10,423 | 1,654 |
| 81 | Garfield County | $13.9M | $7,652 | 1,813 |
| 82 | Sioux County | $13.5M | $11,870 | 1,135 |
| 83 | Hayes County | $13.4M | $15,694 | 856 |
| 84 | Rock County | $11.1M | $8,766 | 1,262 |
| 85 | Hooker County | $7.6M | $10,685 | 711 |
| 86 | Blaine County | $6.2M | $14,333 | 431 |
| 87 | Loup County | $6.0M | $9,901 | 607 |
| 88 | Wheeler County | $5.3M | $6,894 | 774 |
| 89 | Mcpherson County | $5.3M | $13,308 | 399 |
| 90 | Logan County | $5.2M | $7,300 | 716 |
| 91 | Grant County | $4.8M | $7,792 | 611 |
| 92 | Thomas County | $4.1M | $6,089 | 669 |
| 93 | Arthur County | $3.9M | $8,906 | 434 |
Explore Nebraska Federal Spending
Go deeper on Nebraska's federal footprint.
DOGE Impact for Nebraska
Reported federal contract and grant terminations, claimed savings, per-capita impact, and state ranking.
DOGE state impact →
Per-Capita Rankings
Where Nebraska ranks among all states for federal spending per resident.
Top Federal Agencies
The agencies that move the most money nationwide, by obligated amount.
Federal Spending Guides
Learn more about how federal spending works and how to interpret this data.
Understanding Federal Spending
Contracts, grants, loans, and how federal money flows to states and communities.
Why Spending Varies by State
Military bases, federal labs, population, and per capita analysis.
Where Does Federal Money Go?
Mandatory vs. discretionary, top agencies, and biggest programs.
How Federal Contracts Are Awarded
Procurement process, contract types, and small business set-asides.
States With Similar Per Capita Spending
States with per capita federal spending closest to Nebraska's $14,140.
What this means
Nebraska ranks #26 of 57 states by FY2025 per-capita federal spending.
- Per-capita spending is 9.6% below the national average -- a structural signal, not a claim about efficiency or need. Per-capita rankings
- Department of Health and Human Services is the single largest federal agency operating here, obligating 36.5% of every dollar tracked in Nebraska. Agency rankings
- 93 counties in Nebraska receive federal dollars -- the county-level pages break down exactly where. See counties
Per-capita and national-average figures use each state's most recent Census population estimate against the same FY total; they describe HOW money is distributed, not whether that distribution is justified.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much federal spending did Nebraska receive in FY2025?
Nebraska received $27.7B in total federal spending during Fiscal Year 2025. This equates to $14,140 per capita for the state's population of 1,961,504.
How does Nebraska's federal spending per capita compare to the national average?
Nebraska's per capita federal spending of $14,140 is 9.6% below the national average of $15,647. Nebraska ranks #26 out of 57 states by per capita spending.
What is the largest category of federal spending in Nebraska?
The most common award type is direct payments, accounting for 172,997 awards (84.0% of tracked awards). The second-largest is contracts at 19,107 awards.
Which federal agencies spend the most in Nebraska?
The top federal agency spending in Nebraska is Department of Health and Human Services with $10.1B. Followed by Social Security Administration ($9.0B) and Department of Agriculture ($2.2B).
How many counties in Nebraska receive federal spending?
93 counties in Nebraska receive federal spending. The county receiving the most is Douglas County with $9.3B.
How has federal spending in Nebraska changed over time?
Federal spending in Nebraska increased by 11.6% from FY2020 ($24.8B) to FY2025 ($27.7B).
Where does Nebraska rank nationally in federal spending?
Nebraska ranks #41 out of 57 states in total federal spending and #26 in per capita spending. The state received $27.7B total ($14,140 per person) in FY2025.
Data Sources
- USASpending.gov: Federal spending data from the U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Fiscal Year: FY2025
- Award types: Contracts, grants, loans, direct payments, and other financial assistance
- Population: U.S. Census Bureau estimates used for per capita calculations
- Budget context: Agency totals cross-referenced with OMB Program and Financial Schedules where applicable
Spending figures represent obligated amounts from federal awards. Per capita calculations use Census population estimates. This information is for research and informational purposes only.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and presented.
Every figure on PlainSpending is computed directly from USASpending.gov award-transaction data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates every county-level federal award within the state, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.