Instructions
- This Sankey diagram shows Budget Functions on the left and Object Classes on the right.
- Hover over a Budget Function category on the left to see how spending breaks down into Object Class categories.
- Hover over an Object Class on the right to see how spending breaks down into Budget Functions.
- Click and drag any Budget Function or Object Class color bar to vertically rearrange the ordering of that category.
Categorization Systems
Budget Functions are used by Congress to categorize federal spending, and are also useful for the public to understand the different missions, or functions of the federal government. Though Budget Functions have evolved over time, the use of Budget Functions is nothing new: Congress has been tracking federal spending using a version of these categories for more than 200 years.
The Object Classification system, which was created in the 1920s, explains what the government received in exchange for spending. For example, the Object Classification system captures spending on salaries for federal employees, rent payments for federal buildings, and spending on federal contracts.