Federal Spending Report — Week of 2026-05-31
Federal Spending Report: May 31 – June 6, 2026
The federal government obligated $10.3 million across 39 awards during the week of May 31 to June 6, 2026, with 34 unique contractors receiving funds from 10 different agencies. The spending reflects continued investment in research and development, with grants representing the dominant award mechanism at $9.2 million of the total.
Research institutions captured the largest share of funding during the period. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Massachusetts and the Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope in California each secured $1.1 million grants from the Department of Defense, while Michigan State University received an identical $1.1 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services. Oklahoma State University followed with a $750,000 agricultural grant, and the University of Rhode Island pulled in $698,000 from the National Science Foundation.
The National Science Foundation led all agencies in award frequency with 6 grants totaling $2.7 million, though the Department of Agriculture distributed the second-highest amount at $2.4 million across 8 awards. The Department of Defense, despite issuing only 2 awards, ranked third by total obligation at $2.2 million, underscoring the scale of its research partnerships. The National Endowment for the Humanities remained active with 5 awards worth $701,000.
California emerged as the top recipient state with $2.0 million spread across 5 awards, while Michigan captured $1.3 million in two separate grants. Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and Mississippi rounded out the top five states by funding. The concentration of awards among academic and research institutions suggests sustained federal commitment to university-based research across health, agricultural, and scientific domains.
Direct payments accounted for a notable $1.1 million of the week's total across 7 awards, though grants dominated the activity. With each of the top five contractors receiving single awards during this period, the spending pattern reflects targeted, substantial commitments rather than broad distribution. The week's activity aligns with typical federal fiscal rhythms, with research-intensive agencies driving the majority of obligations.