As of May 12, 2026, the U.S. federal government reported a $215 billion budget surplus for the month of April. April typically sees a surplus due to the deadline for individual income tax filings.
Current Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Status
The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30. Despite the monthly surplus in April, the government remains in a significant cumulative deficit for the year.
- Cumulative Deficit: Through the first seven months of FY 2026 (Oct–Apr), the total deficit reached $954 billion to $955 billion.
- Comparison to FY 2025: This cumulative deficit is approximately $95 billion (9%) lower than it was at the same point last year, driven by strong growth in tax receipts.
- Year-to-Date Revenue: The government has collected roughly $3.32 trillion.
- Year-to-Date Spending: Total outlays have reached approximately $4.27 trillion.
Full-Year Projections
Forecasting agencies expect the deficit to widen again as the year progresses toward the September 30 close.
- CBO Estimate: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects a total FY 2026 deficit of $1.9 trillion.
- OMB/Treasury Projection: Recent estimates from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Treasury suggest the final deficit could hit $2.0 trillion to $2.1 trillion.
Would you like a breakdown of the major spending increases driving this year's $4.27 trillion in outlays?
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