Most federal support for children doesn’t come from classic children’s programs like Head Start, but from Medicaid, nutrition assistance, and tax credits—programs more often associated with adults. In 2016, the federal government spent $377 billion (10% of the $3.9 trillion federal budget) on children through programs and refundable tax credits.
An additional $108 billion in tax reductions was targeted to families with children, bringing total federal expenditures on children to $486 billion. At $89 billion, Medicaid is the largest source of federal spending on children. The next three largest programs are tax provisions: the earned income tax credit, the child tax credit, and the dependent exemption. SNAP is the fifth-largest source of expenditures on children, providing $31 billion in benefits in 2016. Child nutrition programs, including the school lunch and breakfast programs, provided another $22 billion.
Source: Urban Institute, 10/31/17, Federal Support for Kid
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