We generate trade-offs using enacted budget numbers as published by the White House Office of Management and Budget and costs published by various federal agencies. The localized numbers are calculated using our best approximation of individual income taxes paid by geographic area. These numbers are estimates only. For a full explanation of our sources and methodology, see the notes and sources page.
The numbers in Trade-Offs are projected total costs for a federal program through the end of the specified fiscal year. The numbers in the Cost of National Security counters are changing in real time to show how much has been spent on a program to date since the beginning of the fiscal year, unless otherwise specified.
