USAspending.gov

API

Free API for U.S. federal spending data

Overview

The USAspending.gov API offers RESTful access to detailed U.S. federal spending data, including awards (contracts, grants, loans), agency budgets, recipient profiles, and spending trends. Responses are in JSON format. Key endpoints include /api/v2/awards/ (filter by recipient, agency, date), /api/v2/agencies/ (agency-specific spending), and /api/v2/recipient/ (recipient funding details). Use cases include building transparency dashboards, analyzing federal funding patterns, researching contract awards for policy insights, and integrating spending data into oversight tools. It supports filtering, pagination, and sorting for tailored results.

Example Integration (JavaScript)

script.js JS


fetch('https://api.usaspending.gov/')
  .then(res => res.json())
  .then(data => console.log(data))
  .catch(err => console.error(err));

Key Features

RESTful architecture
JSON response format
No API key required
Comprehensive federal spending data
Advanced filtering and pagination

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is the USAspending.gov API free to use?

Yes, the API is completely free for public access with no subscription or usage fees.

? Does the USAspending.gov API require an API Key?

No, most endpoints do not require an API key. However, rate limits are in place to ensure fair usage.

? What is the response format of the USAspending.gov API?

All responses from the API are in JSON format, which is widely supported and easy to parse for applications.

Top Alternatives

FPDS API (Federal Procurement Data System) Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Free

Category Government

Platform Public API

Pros

⊕ Free public access
⊕ Extensive data coverage (contracts, grants, agencies)
⊕ Easy integration with apps
⊕ Supports transparency initiatives
⊕ Regularly updated data

Cons

⊖ Rate limits apply to prevent abuse
⊖ Documentation can be overwhelming for new users
⊖ Large datasets may require efficient pagination handling
⊖ No official SLA for uptime