Official U.S. Government information about the
Global Positioning System (GPS) and related topics
Program Funding
Past Fiscal Years
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Who Pays for GPS?
The American taxpayer pays for the GPS service enjoyed throughout the world. All GPS program funding comes from general U.S. tax revenues.
The bulk of the program is budgeted through the Department of Defense, which has primary responsibility for developing, acquiring, operating, sustaining, and modernizing GPS.
Learn about GPS modernization
Civil GPS Funding
U.S. policy assigns the Department of Transportation responsibility for funding the extra costs associated with new, civilian GPS upgrades beyond the second and third civil signals. Agencies with unique requirements for GPS are responsible for funding them.
Download background paper on civil funding
Learn about U.S. policy
How Much Does the U.S. Government Spend on the GPS Program?
The President requested and Congress provided over $1 billion to fund the core GPS program in Fiscal Year 2015 (ending September 30, 2015).
View details
The President's FY 2016 budget request includes $965 million for the GPS program, including both military and civil funding.
View details
Augmentation Systems
Beyond the core GPS program, several federal agencies fund and manage augmentation systems that improve GPS performance in support of their particular needs.
Learn about augmentations
Budget details for federal augmentations are available via the links on the right.
Has the U.S. Government Thought About Privatizing GPS?
There are no plans to privatize GPS. U.S. law and policy require the civil GPS service to be provided free of direct user fees.
Learn about the law
Learn about U.S. policy
