How Much the Government Really Costs You

The size and cost of federal government will be top of mind as the presidential contenders race toward 2016. Some have already suggested saving money by closing the Supreme Court, the Department of Education, and the Environmental Protection Agency. But how much do these and other government programs really cost you, and would eliminating them make a dent in the $3.8-trillion budget? We calculated the cost of federal departments and programs per U.S. resident—there are currently 321.4 million—to get a rough-and-ready idea of the per-person tab. Take the quiz to see how much you, and the candidates, know about where your tax dollars go.