Space, astronomy, rockets and the physics of it all.
Monday, September 28, 2026 · UTC
Asteroids & Planetary Defense

DOD budget authority rises $56 billion in fourth quarter

US federal spending data shows the Department of Defense budget authority reached $2.63 trillion by the end of fiscal year 2026.

Planetary Science Reporter
Share on X
Stands on 3 first-party readings of USASpending.gov, not reporting.
Pentagon budget grows to $2.63 trillion
Pentagon budget grows to $2.63 trillion AI illustrationhow this picture was made
US federal spending data shows the Department of Defense budget authority reached $2.63 trillion as of September 30, 2026, up from $2.58 trillion on June 30, 2026. [1] That increase of $56 billion closes the fourth quarter of federal fiscal year 2026, which runs from October 2025 through September 2026. [1] Federal spending data shows the amount of money the Department of Defense obligated rose to $1.43 trillion by September 30, 2026, compared to $1.29 trillion on June 30, 2026. [2] Federal spending data shows actual outlays for the Department of Defense totaled $1.27 trillion as of September 30, 2026, an increase from $1.15 trillion recorded on June 30, 2026. [3]
Proof3 sources · 1 publisher · signed
What this stands on
  1. Department of Defense (DOD, US federal agency) budget authority: 2,631,408,222,827 usd as of 2026-09-30 (was 2,575,166,024,523 on 2026-06-30). That date closes the fourth quarter of federal fiscal year 2026, which runs October 2025 through September 2026. · USASpending.govUnited Statesofficial source · Federal spending
  2. Department of Defense (DOD, US federal agency) obligated amount: 1,429,515,155,907 usd as of 2026-09-30 (was 1,285,021,806,246 on 2026-06-30). That date closes the fourth quarter of federal fiscal year 2026, which runs October 2025 through September 2026. · USASpending.govUnited Statesofficial source · Federal spending
  3. Department of Defense (DOD, US federal agency) outlay amount: 1,269,728,654,138 usd as of 2026-09-30 (was 1,145,176,594,769 on 2026-06-30). That date closes the fourth quarter of federal fiscal year 2026, which runs October 2025 through September 2026. · USASpending.govUnited Statesofficial source · Federal spending
Read directly from USASpending.gov, the federal government's own record of obligations, not from anyone's report of it.