Fact Brief

Do federal funds make up about one-third of North Dakota’s state spending?

Yes.

Federal funds made up about 31.3% of North Dakota’s total state spending in fiscal year 2024, the most recent year for which full data is available.

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Data from the National Association of State Budget Officers shows that federal dollars accounted for nearly one-third of the state’s total expenditures that year.

Federal funding supports major areas of state spending, including programs such as Medicaid, transportation, and education.

Nationally, federal funds accounted for about 34% of total state spending in fiscal year 2024, slightly higher than North Dakota’s share.

Federal support levels vary from year to year, but federal funding consistently makes up a notable portion of state budgets across the country.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

About Fact Briefs:

Fact Briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact Briefs are written and published by newsrooms in the Gigafact network. Each brief is limited to 150 words or fewer and is not intended to provide an in-depth analysis, but rather to deliver concise, definitive answers grounded in verified information.

Sources

National Association of State Budget Officers: State Expenditure Report
North Dakota Office of Management and Budget: Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
Congressional Research Service: Federal Grants to State and Local Governments, A Historical Perspective
KFF (state-reported SFY2024 data): Total State Expenditures by Fund (in millions)

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The North Dakota News Cooperative is a nonprofit news organization providing reliable and independent reporting on issues and events that impact the lives of North Dakotans. The organization increases the public’s access to quality journalism and advances news literacy across the state. For more information about NDNC or to make a charitable contribution, please visit newscoopnd.org. Send comments, suggestions or tips to michael@newscoopnd.org. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NDNewsCoop.