Administration of federal assistance in the United States

For subsidies provided by the U.S. Federal government, see Subsidy.

In the United States, federal assistance, also known as federal aid, federal benefits, or federal funds, is defined as any federal program, project, service, or activity provided by the federal government that directly assists domestic governments, organizations, or individuals in the areas of education, health, public safety, public welfare, and public works, among others.

The assistance, which can reach to over $400 billion annually, is provided and administered by federal government agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through special programs to recipients.

While the ostensible goal of federal assistance programs is to provide healthcare or improve schools, members of Congress often treat them as opportunities to procure more funding for their constituents. As a result, people living in places that are represented by powerful members of Congress often receive more funding. Thus, the distribution of federal assistance often reflects the power dynamics on Capitol Hill rather than the needs of the country as a whole.