Every year, trillions of federal dollars flow through contracts, grants, lobbying, and legislation. We follow the money.
Public Money Tracker analyzes public federal datasets to show where government spending goes, which industries receive funding, and how public records connect spending, lobbying, and congressional activity.
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Spending updates, contract awards, lobbying activity, and influence patterns — delivered every week. Free to subscribe.
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The Data
01
Every dollar awarded through USASpending.gov — which companies, which agencies, which districts.
02
FEC filings tracking donations, PAC spending, and industry contributions to candidates and committees.
03
Who is spending money to influence legislation, and which issues and agencies they're targeting.
04
Bills, votes, committee assignments, and legislative records from Congress.gov.
05
STOCK Act disclosures cross-referenced against committee assignments and industry legislation.
06
All federal assistance listings — which programs exist, who funds them, and who receives the money.
Our Approach
Federal influence doesn't move in a straight line. We connect every step — from political donations to the companies that ultimately receive federal dollars.
All analysis is based on publicly available records. We report patterns, not accusations.
The Newsletter
Illustrative Example — Paid Analysis Format
Industry Donations
$22M
Lobbying Spend
$48M
Federal Grants Issued
$39B
Major Beneficiaries
Intel · TSMC · Micron
"The CHIPS Act didn't emerge from a vacuum. This report traces the full path from industry campaign contributions through lobbying disclosures, committee activity, and ultimately to the $39 billion in federal grants that followed."
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