Election 2012

States With the Most Federal Funding

States with the Most Federal Funding

According to the Office of Management and Budget’s 2012 total federal spending for fiscal year 2011 is estimated to be $3.6 trillion. Much of this amount was allocated to the states, with the most populous receiving the largest payouts.The state that received the most in one lump sum was With people residing there, the state is the fourth most populous in the nation. California, on the other hand, has residents, more than anywhere else in the country, yet it received only the third-highest a
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Total federal spending for fiscal year 2011 is estimated to be $3.6 trillion, according to the Office of Management and Budget’s 2012 Mid-Session Review. Much of this amount was allocated to the states, with the most populous receiving the largest payouts.

The state that received the most in one lump sum was Florida. With 19.1 million residents, the state is the fourth-most populous in the nation. California, on the other hand, has 37.7 million residents, more than any other in the country, yet it received only the third-highest amount of federal dollars that year. Why is this?

States receive given amounts of federal funding for several reasons. Some of it pays for the operation of government agencies, some of it is distributed to contractors and some goes to entitlement programs, among other things.

Using data from USASpending.gov,an OMB website, CNBC.com presents the 10 states that received the most federal dollars per capita in fiscal year 2011. Five of the states are red states, three are blue and two are battlegrounds. Read ahead to see what they are.

By Daniel Bukszpan
Posted 28 Sept 2012

10. Maryland

Federal spending per capita: $11,280Total federal spending: $65.74 billionNumber of state residents: 5.8 millionMaryland was the recipient of the 13th-highest amount of federal dollars in fiscal year 2011. Of its top 10 prime awards, one went to the Department of Defense, four went to the Department of Health and Human Services and five went to the Department of Homeland Security.The Lockheed Martin Corporation and Johns Hopkins University were the top two prime award contractors. Motorola Solut
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Federal spending per capita: $11,280
Total federal spending: $65.74 billion
Number of residents: 5.8 million

Maryland was the recipient of the 13th-highest amount of federal dollars in fiscal year 2011. Of its top 10 prime awards, one went to the Defense Department, four went to Health and Human Services and five went to the Department of Homeland Security.

Lockheed Martin and Johns Hopkins University were the top two prime award contractors. Motorola Solutions and Honeywell Technology Solutions were two of the top five contract sub-awardees.

9. Texas

Federal spending per capita: $11,452Total federal spending: $294 billionNumber of state residents: 25.7 millionTexas was the 2nd-highest recipient of total federal spending in the nation in fiscal year 2011. However, on a per capita basis, it almost brings up the rear of the top 10, with a mere $11,452 in federal dollars spent per Texan.Of the top 10 prime award received, three went to the Department of Health and Human Services. The remaining seven went to the Department of Homeland Security. P
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Federal spending per capita: $11,452
Total federal spending: $294 billion
Number of residents: 25.7 million

Texas was the second-highest recipient of total federal money. However, on a per capita basis, it almost brings up the rear of the top 10, with $11,452 in federal dollars spent per Texan.

Of the top 10 prime award received, three went to the Department of Health and Human Services. The rest went to the Department of Homeland Security. Prime award contractors included Lockheed Martin and the Raytheon.

8. Delaware

Federal spending per capita: $12,384Total federal spending: $11.23 billionNumber of state residents: 907,135Delaware is one of the least populous states in the U.S., and for fiscal year 2011 it was the 43rd-highest recipient of total federal spending in the country. However, with a total federal payout of over $11 billion, it receives the eighth-highest amount of federal funding per capita.Every one of the top 10 prime awards allocated in the state of Delaware went to the Department of Homeland
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Federal spending per capita: $12,384
Total federal spending: $11.23 billion
Number of residents: 907,135

Delaware is one of the least populous states in the U.S., and for fiscal year 2011 it was the 43rd-highest recipient of total federal money. However, with a total federal payout of over $11 billion, it receives the eighth-highest amount of federal funding per resident.

Every one of the top 10 prime awards allocated in the state went to the Department of Homeland Security. GlaxoSmithKline topped the list of prime award contractors, and drugs and biologicals topped the list of prime award products or services sold.

7. North Dakota

Federal spending per capita: $12,704Total federal spending: $8.69 billionNumber of state residents: 683,932North Dakota is even more sparsely populated than tiny Delaware, and accordingly it received only the 45th-highest amount of federal funding in fiscal year 2011. This worked out to $12,704 per capita, putting it on the top 10 list.As with Texas, three of the top 10 prime awards went to the Department of Health and Human Services, and the other seven went to the Department of Homeland Securi
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Federal spending per capita: $12,704
Total federal spending: $8.69 billion
Number of residents: 683,932

North Dakota is even more sparsely populated than tiny Delaware, and accordingly it received only the 45th-highest amount of federal funding. This worked out to $12,704 per capita, putting it on the top 10 list.

As with Texas, three of the top 10 prime awards went to the Health and Human Services, and the rest went to the Department of Homeland Security. The top five prime award contractors included the Noridian Mutual Insurance Company, Tesoro, and Record Steel and Construction.

6. Mississippi

Federal spending per capita: $13,141Total federal spending: $39.14 billionNumber of state residents: 3 millionMississippi is one of the poorest states in the U.S., but it was the 22nd-highest recipient of total federal spending in the country in fiscal year 2011. Each resident of the state had over $13,000 spent on his or her behalf. Not too shabby.Of its top 10 prime awards, three went to the Department of Defense, three went to the Department of Homeland Security and four went to the Departmen
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Federal spending per capita: $13,141
Total federal spending: $39.14 billion
Number of residents: 3 million

Mississippi is one of the poorest states in the U.S., but it was the 22nd-highest recipient of total federal spending. Each resident had over $13,000 spent on his or her behalf.

Of its top 10 prime awards, three went to the Defense Department, three to Homeland Security and four to Health and Human Services. The top five prime award contractors included Northrop Grumman and its shipbuilding subsidiary.

5. Virginia

Federal spending per capita: $14,463Total federal spending: $117.10 billionNumber of state residents: 8.1 millionOf the top 10 prime awards that the state of Virginia received in fiscal year 2011, one went to the Department of Health and Human Services and one went to the Department of Defense. The remaining eight went to the Department of Homeland Security.The top five prime award contractors included SAIC, Inc., a scientific and engineering company with close ties to the Department of Defense
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Federal spending per capita: $14,463
Total federal spending: $117.10 billion
Number of residents: 8.1 million

Virginia is one of two battleground states on the list. Of the top 10 prime awards there, one went to Health and Human Services and one to the Defense Department. The rest went to Homeland Security.

The top five prime award contractors included SAIC, a scientific and engineering company with close ties to the Pentagon and the intelligence community. Other awardees included Northrop Grumman and the Hewlett-Packard.

4. Hawaii

Federal spending per capita: $15,628Total federal spending: $21.48 billionNumber of state residents: 1.4 millionIn fiscal year 2011 all of the top 10 prime awards allocated to Hawaii went to the Department of Homeland Security. This agency received a total of $12.4 billion, more than half of the entire amount of federal dollars given to the state.Of the major agencies receiving prime awards, the Social Security Administration came in a very distant second place to DHS. Its award of $3.2 billion
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Federal spending per capita: $15,628
Total federal spending: $21.48 billion
Number of residents: 1.4 million

In fiscal year 2011 all of the top 10 prime awards allocated to Hawaii went to Homeland Security. This federal agency received a total of $12.4 billion, more than half of the entire amount of federal dollars given to the state.

Of the major agencies receiving prime awards, the Social Security Administration came in a very distant second place to DHS. Its award of $3.2 billion was just over a quarter of what DHS received.

3. South Carolina

Federal spending per capita: $16,467Total federal spending: $77.05 billionNumber of state residents: 4.7 millionSouth Carolina was the 10th-highest recipient of federal spending in fiscal year 2011, with a $77.05 billion payout that amounted to $16,467 per person. As with Delaware and Hawaii, all of the top 10 prime awards went to the Department of Homeland Security.The top five prime award contractors included Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, the General Dynamics Corporation and Blue Cross and
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Federal spending per capita: $16,467
Total federal spending: $77.05 billion
Number of residents: 4.7 million

South Carolina was the 10th-highest recipient of federal funds, with a $77.05 billion payout that amounted to $16,467 per person. As with Delaware and Hawaii, all of the top 10 prime awards went to Homeland Security.

The top five prime award contractors included Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, General Dynamics and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina. The top prime award service sold was the maintenance and repair of communication equipment.

2. Louisiana

Federal spending per capita: $30,115Total federal spending: $137.77 billionNumber of state residents: 4.6 millionLouisiana was the 5th-highest recipient of total federal spending in the nation in fiscal year 2011. Of the top 10 prime awards that it received, one went to the Department of Health and Human Services and the other nine went to the Department of Homeland Security.The top 5 prime award products or services sold included wheeled combat vehicles and combat ships. The top two went to con
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Federal spending per capita: $30,115
Total federal spending: $137.77 billion
Number of residents: 4.6 million

Louisiana was the fifth-highest recipient overall. Of the top 10 prime awards that it received, one went to the Health and Human Services and the rest to Homeland Security.

The top five prime award products or services sold included wheeled combat vehicles and combat ships. The top two went to construction services, for which approximately $1.5 billion was awarded.

1. Florida

Federal spending per capita: $30,318Total federal spending: $577.80 billionNumber of state residents: 19.1 millionThe state of Florida was the recipient of the most federal spending in the nation, both in total and on a per capita basis. It’s similar to second-place Louisiana in that one of the 10 prime awards it received went to the Department of Health and Human Services, and all the others went to the Department of Homeland Security.Other than the Harris Corporation, a telecommunications comp
Walter Bibikow | AWL Images | Getty Images

Federal spending per capita: $30,318
Total federal spending: $577.80 billion
Number of residents: 19.1 million

The state of Florida, the second battleground state on the list, was the recipient of the most federal funds both in total and on a per capita basis. It’s similar to second-place Louisiana in that one of the 10 prime awards it received went to the Health and Human Services, and the rest to Homeland Security.

Other than the Harris Corp., a telecommunications company, the top prime awards contractors were aerospace and defense companies. These include Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman.