FDEFXFederal Defense Spending (FDEFX) — Current Value & Historical Data
Federal Defense Spending (FDEFX) Chart & Data Table
Gray bands: NBER recessions·Dashed lines: key policy events
What is Federal Defense Spending (FDEFX)?
BEA Account Code: A824RC A Guide to the National Income and Product Accounts of the United States (NIPA) -.
Current Federal Defense Spending (FDEFX) Value
As of January 1, 2026, the current federal government: national defense consumption expenditures and gross investment is 1170.43 Billions of Dollars. This is the most recent observation available for this series, updated quarterly.
Federal Defense Spending Historical Trend
Federal Government: National Defense Consumption Expenditures and Gross Investment rose 0.97% quarter-over-quarter. Over the past year, federal government: national defense consumption expenditures and gross investment rose 4.82% from January 2025. In the series' tracked history, the highest recorded value was 1170.43 (January 2026), and the lowest was 19.98 (July 1947).
Methodology & Source
Source
Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)
Frequency
Quarterly
Units
Billions of Dollars
Notes
BEA Account Code: A824RC A Guide to the National Income and Product Accounts of the United States (NIPA) - (http://www.bea.gov/national/pdf/nipaguid.pdf)...
Frequently Asked Questions About Federal Defense Spending (FDEFX)
What is the current federal government: national defense consumption expenditures and gross investment?
As of January 1, 2026, federal government: national defense consumption expenditures and gross investment stands at 1170.43 Billions of Dollars.
Where does federal government: national defense consumption expenditures and gross investment data come from?
Federal Government: National Defense Consumption Expenditures and Gross Investment data is sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) system and related U.S. government agencies. Data quality and historical coverage vary by series.
How often is federal government: national defense consumption expenditures and gross investment updated?
This series is updated according to its publication schedule. Check FRED or the source agency for the most current release calendar.
What is the historical high and low for federal government: national defense consumption expenditures and gross investment?
In the available data, the highest value was 1170.43 Billions of Dollars in January 2026, and the lowest was 19.98 Billions of Dollars in July 1947.
How has federal government: national defense consumption expenditures and gross investment changed over the past year?
Over the past year, federal government: national defense consumption expenditures and gross investment increased 4.82%.
Related government-spending dashboards
How Federal Defense Spending connects to the federal budget across GOVSPENDING.ORG:
Federal Debt
Total public debt, debt held by the public, and intragovernmental holdings.
Receipts vs Outlays
Federal revenue, spending, and the resulting surplus or deficit over time.
Congressional Activity
Recent legislation, appropriations, and fiscal-related bills in Congress.
Interest Expense vs Revenue
How rising debt service costs crowd out federal spending as a share of receipts over time.
Revenue Composition
Federal receipts broken down by source — individual income, corporate, social insurance, excise taxes, and customs duties as shares of total revenue.
Agency Spending (FY 2019 vs FY 2024)
Net outlays by federal agency for FY 2019 and FY 2024, from the Treasury Monthly Treasury Statement. Both nominal and inflation-adjusted comparisons.