Spending · category

Transportation

Highways, transit, aviation, and water transportation. In FY2025 it came to $145B, 2.1% of all federal spending (#8 of 18 categories). Adjusted for inflation, that is up 75% since FY2000.

$145B

FY2025 outlays

2.1%

of all federal spending

+6.4%

change from FY2024 ($137B)

mandatory (the rest is discretionary)

Where it goes

Transportation by subcategory, FY2025. Click one for every program inside it.

Discretionary (set by yearly appropriations)

Ground transportationHighways, mass transit, and rail.

$101B69% Air transportationAir traffic control, airports, and aviation security.

$29.7B20% Water transportation

$13.9B10% Other transportation

$898M1%

The biggest programs

The largest individual accounts in transportation, FY2025, across all its subcategories.

Discretionary (set by yearly appropriations)

Federal-aid highwaysFederal-aid Highways · Federal Highway Administration

$56.0B Transit formula grantsTransit Formula Grants · Federal Transit Administration

$16.2B Trust Fund Share of FAA Activities (Airport and Airway Trust Fund)Federal Aviation Administration

$12.5B Operations and SupportUnited States Coast Guard

$10.0B Operations and SupportTransportation Security Administration

$7.72B Highway Infrastructure ProgramsFederal Highway Administration

$7.46B Transit Infrastructure GrantsFederal Transit Administration

$5.80B Grants-in-aid for Airports (Airport and Airway Trust Fund)Federal Aviation Administration

$3.74B Facilities and Equipment (Airport and Airway Trust Fund)Federal Aviation Administration

$3.20B Capital Investment GrantsFederal Transit Administration

$2.60B Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail GrantsFederal Railroad Administration

$2.02B National Network Grants to the National Railroad Passenger CorporationFederal Railroad Administration

$1.95B

Transportation since 1993

Outlays in 2025 dollars (adjusted for inflation), fiscal years 1993–2025. Share of all federal spending: 2.5% in FY1993, 2.1% in FY2025.

Subcategories

Subcategory	FY2025	vs FY2024	Real, since 2000	Programs
Ground transportation	$101B	+8.6%	+80%	47
Air transportation	$29.7B	−0.1%	+59%	21
Water transportation	$13.9B	+4.6%	+78%	19
Other transportation	$898M	+28%	+166%	17

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