Total Federal Spending
$121.4B
FY2025 obligations
Tennessee Federal Spending
$121.4B in FY2025 federal spending, $17,561 per capita.
$121.4B total · $17,561 per capita · FY2025 · Ranked #16 total, #16 per capita · 12.2% above national avg
In FY2025, Tennessee received $121.4B in federal spending - $17,561 per capita, ranking #16 among 57 states and 12.2% above the national average. The most common award type is direct payments, accounting for 57.0% of tracked awards. The top spending agency is Department of Health and Human Services.
Tennessee · FY2025
Tennessee received $121.4B in federal spending in FY2025 - $17,561 per resident, 12.2% above the national average, with direct payments the largest award category.
- Total federal spending
- $121.4B
- #16 of 57 states
- Per resident
- $17,561
- #16 per capita
- Counties receiving funds
- 95
- place of performance
- Top agency
- Dept. of Health and Human Services
- $57.8B
According to USASpending.gov, the official federal award-transaction dataset, the federal government directed $121.4B to Tennessee in FY2025, translating to $17,561 per resident across a population of 6,910,840. That per-capita figure is 12.2% above the $15,647 national average and ranks Tennessee #16 of 57 states per capita, while total-dollar rank is #16, illustrating the difference between volume of federal dollars and intensity of federal dependence.
The award-type mix shows how federal awards break down in Tennessee by count: 29,683 contracts, 9,612 grants, 15,128 loans, and 81,590 direct payments. The most common award type is direct payments at 57.0% of tracked awards in the state, with contracts a distant second at 29,683 awards. Department of Health and Human Services is the single largest federal agency operating in Tennessee, with $57.8B in obligations - more than Social Security Administration's $36.6B.
Over the available history, federal spending in Tennessee has grown 10.6% from $109.7B in FY2020 to $121.4B in FY2025. Combined with 95 counties receiving dollars and top recipient Finance && Administration Tennessee Depar at $11.9B, this snapshot lets readers judge whether Tennessee'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) Tennessee 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
$121.4B
Rank #16
Per Capita
$17,561
Rank #16
Population
6,910,840
Contract Awards
29,683
Grant Awards
9,612
Per Capita
$17,561
Rank #16
Counties Receiving
95
federal dollars
Top Agency Share
$57.8B
Department of Health and Human
Tennessee award-type mix by count (FY2025)
Tennessee per-capita federal spending vs. national average 83.3%
National average
Compared against the national average of $15,647 per resident.
Awards by Type
Direct Payments is the most common award type at 57.0% of tracked awards in Tennessee (by count, not dollar value).
Direct Payments 81,590 awards (57.0%)
Contracts 29,683 awards (20.7%)
Loans 15,128 awards (10.6%)
Grants 9,612 awards (6.7%)
Other 7,170 awards (5.0%)
Comparison to National Average
| Metric | Tennessee | National Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per Capita Spending | $17,561 | $15,647 | +12.2% |
| Contracts Share | 0.0% | - | - |
| Grants Share | 0.0% | - | - |
Top Federal Agencies in Tennessee
Federal agencies ranked by total spending in Tennessee during FY2025.
| # | Agency | Spending | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Department of Health and Human Services | $57.8B | 47.6% |
| 2 | Social Security Administration | $36.6B | 30.1% |
| 3 | Department of Energy | $6.9B | 5.7% |
| 4 | Department of Veterans Affairs | $6.2B | 5.1% |
| 5 | Department of Agriculture | $3.4B | 2.8% |
| 6 | Department of Defense | $2.7B | 2.3% |
| 7 | Department of Education | $2.1B | 1.7% |
| 8 | Department of Transportation | $2.1B | 1.7% |
| 9 | Department of Housing and Urban Development | $1.2B | 1.0% |
| 10 | Department of Commerce | $836.2M | 0.7% |
| 11 | Department of Homeland Security | $709.7M | 0.6% |
Top Recipients in Tennessee
Organizations and entities receiving the most federal funds in Tennessee.
| # | Recipient | Total Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance && Administration Tennessee Depar | $11.9B |
| 2 | Ut-Battelle LLC | $2.7B |
| 3 | Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC | $2.5B |
| 4 | Tennessee Department of Human Services | $2.5B |
| 5 | Tennessee Department of Transportation | $1.6B |
| 6 | Department of Education Tennessee | $1.4B |
| 7 | Economic and Community Develop | $922.0M |
| 8 | United Cleanup Oak Ridge LLC | $630.3M |
| 9 | Department of Environment && Conservation Tennessee | $542.8M |
| 10 | Vanderbilt University Medical Center | $533.6M |
| 11 | Beyond New Horizons, LLC | $496.1M |
| 12 | Tennessee Emergency Management Agency | $425.7M |
| 13 | Federal Express Corporation | $346.1M |
| 14 | Tennessee Department of Health | $281.5M |
| 15 | Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Incorporated | $268.7M |
Spending Trends
Federal spending in Tennessee increased 10.6% from FY2020 to FY2025.
| Fiscal Year | Total Spending | Per Capita | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | $121.4B | $17,561 | 6,910,840 |
| FY2024 | $107.0B | $15,483 | 6,910,840 |
| FY2023 | $102.9B | $14,893 | 6,910,840 |
| FY2022 | $96.3B | $13,931 | 6,910,840 |
| FY2021 | $113.4B | $16,405 | 6,910,840 |
| FY2020 | $109.7B | $15,874 | 6,910,840 |
Counties in Tennessee
95 counties ranked by federal spending in FY2025.
| # | County | Total Spending | Per Capita | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davidson County | $46.3B | $64,625 | 715,884 |
| 2 | Anderson County | $7.0B | $90,788 | 77,123 |
| 3 | Shelby County | $6.4B | $6,904 | 929,744 |
| 4 | Hamilton County | $6.4B | $17,351 | 366,207 |
| 5 | Knox County | $3.8B | $7,920 | 478,971 |
| 6 | Montgomery County | $2.0B | $9,191 | 220,069 |
| 7 | Sullivan County | $1.8B | $11,509 | 158,163 |
| 8 | Rutherford County | $1.8B | $5,288 | 341,486 |
| 9 | Williamson County | $1.7B | $7,002 | 247,726 |
| 10 | Sumner County | $1.3B | $6,874 | 196,281 |
| 11 | Washington County | $1.3B | $9,399 | 133,001 |
| 12 | Blount County | $1.1B | $7,850 | 135,280 |
| 13 | Coffee County | $1.0B | $17,322 | 57,889 |
| 14 | Wilson County | $977.7M | $6,618 | 147,737 |
| 15 | Bradley County | $771.3M | $7,101 | 108,620 |
| 16 | Maury County | $758.8M | $7,515 | 100,974 |
| 17 | Madison County | $707.8M | $7,162 | 98,823 |
| 18 | Sevier County | $697.2M | $7,086 | 98,380 |
| 19 | Cumberland County | $695.3M | $11,372 | 61,145 |
| 20 | Greene County | $657.0M | $9,366 | 70,152 |
| 21 | Putnam County | $614.2M | $7,692 | 79,854 |
| 22 | Loudon County | $581.8M | $10,601 | 54,886 |
| 23 | Hawkins County | $525.3M | $9,261 | 56,721 |
| 24 | Roane County | $492.5M | $9,222 | 53,404 |
| 25 | Mcminn County | $489.5M | $9,187 | 53,276 |
| 26 | Robertson County | $480.7M | $6,602 | 72,803 |
| 27 | Carter County | $462.9M | $8,214 | 56,356 |
| 28 | Hamblen County | $456.9M | $7,083 | 64,499 |
| 29 | Cocke County | $456.0M | $12,666 | 35,999 |
| 30 | Jefferson County | $449.8M | $8,226 | 54,683 |
| 31 | Tipton County | $448.3M | $7,353 | 60,970 |
| 32 | Gibson County | $414.1M | $8,211 | 50,429 |
| 33 | Fayette County | $412.4M | $9,821 | 41,990 |
| 34 | Monroe County | $383.9M | $8,300 | 46,250 |
| 35 | Dickson County | $375.1M | $6,907 | 54,315 |
| 36 | Franklin County | $333.7M | $7,801 | 42,774 |
| 37 | Campbell County | $322.1M | $8,202 | 39,272 |
| 38 | Unicoi County | $308.2M | $17,194 | 17,928 |
| 39 | Bedford County | $299.8M | $5,967 | 50,237 |
| 40 | Lincoln County | $293.5M | $8,311 | 35,319 |
| 41 | Lawrence County | $288.6M | $6,534 | 44,159 |
| 42 | Warren County | $282.0M | $6,885 | 40,953 |
| 43 | Cheatham County | $281.8M | $6,862 | 41,072 |
| 44 | Henry County | $274.6M | $8,527 | 32,199 |
| 45 | Dyer County | $268.5M | $7,295 | 36,801 |
| 46 | Claiborne County | $259.1M | $8,087 | 32,043 |
| 47 | Marion County | $257.7M | $8,936 | 28,837 |
| 48 | Weakley County | $248.4M | $7,549 | 32,902 |
| 49 | Rhea County | $239.7M | $7,294 | 32,870 |
| 50 | Giles County | $239.5M | $7,893 | 30,346 |
| 51 | Carroll County | $237.3M | $8,343 | 28,440 |
| 52 | Obion County | $228.3M | $7,417 | 30,787 |
| 53 | Hardin County | $223.6M | $8,333 | 26,831 |
| 54 | Hickman County | $222.1M | $8,911 | 24,925 |
| 55 | Benton County | $214.9M | $13,544 | 15,864 |
| 56 | White County | $212.3M | $7,761 | 27,351 |
| 57 | Marshall County | $210.5M | $6,135 | 34,318 |
| 58 | Smith County | $204.2M | $10,261 | 19,904 |
| 59 | Mcnairy County | $197.1M | $7,620 | 25,866 |
| 60 | Grainger County | $189.6M | $8,057 | 23,527 |
| 61 | Henderson County | $184.6M | $6,630 | 27,842 |
| 62 | Hardeman County | $178.9M | $7,026 | 25,462 |
| 63 | Johnson County | $177.8M | $9,909 | 17,948 |
| 64 | Overton County | $166.3M | $7,386 | 22,511 |
| 65 | Fentress County | $164.5M | $8,896 | 18,489 |
| 66 | Dekalb County | $152.0M | $7,570 | 20,080 |
| 67 | Lauderdale County | $151.6M | $6,030 | 25,143 |
| 68 | Polk County | $150.7M | $8,588 | 17,544 |
| 69 | Scott County | $150.3M | $6,877 | 21,850 |
| 70 | Macon County | $147.9M | $5,866 | 25,216 |
| 71 | Morgan County | $146.9M | $6,986 | 21,035 |
| 72 | Humphreys County | $142.5M | $7,505 | 18,990 |
| 73 | Sequatchie County | $142.0M | $8,975 | 15,826 |
| 74 | Union County | $137.5M | $6,941 | 19,802 |
| 75 | Stewart County | $130.7M | $9,567 | 13,657 |
| 76 | Haywood County | $129.9M | $7,273 | 17,864 |
| 77 | Cannon County | $119.1M | $8,208 | 14,506 |
| 78 | Wayne County | $115.9M | $7,138 | 16,232 |
| 79 | Chester County | $115.2M | $6,645 | 17,341 |
| 80 | Grundy County | $108.8M | $8,043 | 13,529 |
| 81 | Bledsoe County | $103.3M | $6,926 | 14,913 |
| 82 | Decatur County | $103.1M | $9,015 | 11,435 |
| 83 | Meigs County | $102.9M | $8,068 | 12,758 |
| 84 | Crockett County | $98.1M | $7,055 | 13,911 |
| 85 | Jackson County | $91.2M | $7,854 | 11,617 |
| 86 | Lewis County | $90.0M | $7,152 | 12,582 |
| 87 | Houston County | $63.7M | $7,694 | 8,283 |
| 88 | Clay County | $63.0M | $8,306 | 7,581 |
| 89 | Perry County | $57.8M | $6,908 | 8,366 |
| 90 | Moore County | $56.4M | $8,726 | 6,461 |
| 91 | Trousdale County | $55.7M | $4,796 | 11,615 |
| 92 | Van Buren County | $48.7M | $7,890 | 6,168 |
| 93 | Pickett County | $43.7M | $8,742 | 5,001 |
| 94 | Hancock County | $42.5M | $6,385 | 6,662 |
| 95 | Lake County | $39.1M | $5,585 | 7,005 |
Explore Tennessee Federal Spending
Go deeper on Tennessee's federal footprint.
DOGE Impact for Tennessee
Reported federal contract and grant terminations, claimed savings, per-capita impact, and state ranking.
DOGE state impact →
Per-Capita Rankings
Where Tennessee 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 Tennessee's $17,561.
What this means
Tennessee ranks #16 of 57 states by FY2025 per-capita federal spending.
- Per-capita spending is 12.2% above 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 47.6% of every dollar tracked in Tennessee. Agency rankings
- 95 counties in Tennessee 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 Tennessee receive in FY2025?
Tennessee received $121.4B in total federal spending during Fiscal Year 2025. This equates to $17,561 per capita for the state's population of 6,910,840.
How does Tennessee's federal spending per capita compare to the national average?
Tennessee's per capita federal spending of $17,561 is 12.2% above the national average of $15,647. Tennessee ranks #16 out of 57 states by per capita spending.
What is the largest category of federal spending in Tennessee?
The most common award type is direct payments, accounting for 81,590 awards (57.0% of tracked awards). The second-largest is contracts at 29,683 awards.
Which federal agencies spend the most in Tennessee?
The top federal agency spending in Tennessee is Department of Health and Human Services with $57.8B. Followed by Social Security Administration ($36.6B) and Department of Energy ($6.9B).
How many counties in Tennessee receive federal spending?
95 counties in Tennessee receive federal spending. The county receiving the most is Davidson County with $46.3B.
How has federal spending in Tennessee changed over time?
Federal spending in Tennessee increased by 10.6% from FY2020 ($109.7B) to FY2025 ($121.4B).
Where does Tennessee rank nationally in federal spending?
Tennessee ranks #16 out of 57 states in total federal spending and #16 in per capita spending. The state received $121.4B total ($17,561 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.