Resources for Tracking Federal COVID-19 Spending

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Resources for Tracking Federal COVID-19
September September 215, 2020 , 2020
Spending
Jennifer Teefy
Congress has responded to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Congress has responded to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with pandemic with
Senior Research Librarian Senior Research Librarian
supplemental appropriations measures providing relief and assistance to individuals and families, supplemental appropriations measures providing relief and assistance to individuals and families,

state and local governments, businesses, health care providers, and other entities. For more state and local governments, businesses, health care providers, and other entities. For more
Maria Kreiser
information, see CRS Report R46474, information, see CRS Report R46474, Laws Enacted in Response to COVID-19: Resources for
Senior Research Librarian Senior Research Librarian
Congressional Offices. .

This report provides selected sources for tracking COVID-19 relief and assistance spending. It This report provides selected sources for tracking COVID-19 relief and assistance spending. It

includes links to and information on government sources detailing spending amounts at various includes links to and information on government sources detailing spending amounts at various
levels, including consolidated spending by multiple government agencies, spending by individual government agencies, and levels, including consolidated spending by multiple government agencies, spending by individual government agencies, and
spending to specific recipients and geographies. The sources themselves are large government databases, individual agencies, spending to specific recipients and geographies. The sources themselves are large government databases, individual agencies,
oversight entities, and selected nongovernmental entities that attempt to repackage information on spending amounts oversight entities, and selected nongovernmental entities that attempt to repackage information on spending amounts
obtained from available government sources.obtained from available government sources.
Due to the continually evolving nature of information provided by sources that track federal COVID-19 spending, this report Due to the continually evolving nature of information provided by sources that track federal COVID-19 spending, this report
may be updated frequently. may be updated frequently.
For a legislative summary of the enacted bills, and a broad discussion of both the discretionary and direct spending measures For a legislative summary of the enacted bills, and a broad discussion of both the discretionary and direct spending measures
provided by Congress, see CRS Report R46449, provided by Congress, see CRS Report R46449, Tallying Federal Funding for COVID-19: In Brief, by William L. Painter. , by William L. Painter.
For general information on resources for tracking federal funds, see CRS Report R44027, For general information on resources for tracking federal funds, see CRS Report R44027, ~~Track ing~~Tracking Federal Awards:
USAspending.gov and Other Data Sources, by Jennifer Teefy. , by Jennifer Teefy.

Congressional Research Service Congressional Research Service

Resources for Tracking Federal COVID-19 Spending

Consolidated Data on COVID-19 Funding
USAspending.gov
USAspending.gov tracks federal contract and grant awards and other federal spending at the state, USAspending.gov tracks federal contract and grant awards and other federal spending at the state,
congressional district, and local levels. As mandated by an Office of Management and Budget congressional district, and local levels. As mandated by an Office of Management and Budget
memorandum, federal agencies must include specific COVID-19 spending in their reporting for memorandum, federal agencies must include specific COVID-19 spending in their reporting for
the database. Detailed data for some programs are not fully reported in USAspending.gov, such as the database. Detailed data for some programs are not fully reported in USAspending.gov, such as
the the ~~Smal~~ Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program and the Department of Health Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program and the Department of Health
and Human Services’ Provider Relief Fund. The database provides a description of known data and Human Services’ Provider Relief Fund. The database provides a description of known data
limitations. Users can view COVID-19 spending data through the following features: limitations. Users can view COVID-19 spending data through the following features:
  COVID-19 Profile Page provides an overview of the federal funding response to provides an overview of the federal funding response to
COVID-19. It includes details on total obligations and outlays by agency, federal COVID-19. It includes details on total obligations and outlays by agency, federal
accounts, and object accounts, and object ~~class~~classes. An interactive map shows obligations and outlays . An interactive map shows obligations and outlays
through grants, contracts, loans, and other assistance by state. Users can also see through grants, contracts, loans, and other assistance by state. Users can also see
obligations and outlays through different award types by agency and by Catalog obligations and outlays through different award types by agency and by Catalog
of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) program. of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) program.
  Advanced Search includes a filter for “Disaster Emergency Fund Code includes a filter for “Disaster Emergency Fund Code
(DEFC).” This filter (DEFC).” This filter ~~al ows~~allows users to search for users to search for al all COVID-19 spending and also COVID-19 spending and also
expands to expands to ~~al ow~~allow further filtering by specific funding further filtering by specific funding ~~bil~~ bill. The search results table . The search results table
includes columns containing COVID-19 obligations and outlays for each award. includes columns containing COVID-19 obligations and outlays for each award.
For general information on USAspending.gov, including For general information on USAspending.gov, including searching tips, see CRS In Focus searching tips, see CRS In Focus
IF10231, IF10231, Tracking Federal Awards in States and Congressional Districts Using
USAspending.gov, by Jennifer Teefy. , by Jennifer Teefy.
Pandemic Response Accountability Committee
The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC), a federal entity created by the The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC), a federal entity created by the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136)Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136)~~, is publishing~~
~~updated COVID-19 federal assistance and grant awards data at state and congressional district~~
~~levels.1 Currently, PRAC provides data on COVID-19-related contract awards from the General~~
~~Services Administration’s Federal Procurement Data System. These data are presented through~~
~~interactive tools with filtering capabilities (e.g., by state, county, and congressional district). The~~
~~website also links to the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program data (discussed below). PRAC’s~~
~~website is integrated with the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency’s~~
~~website, the federal inspector general community’s oversight and coordination body. See CRS~~
~~Insight IN11343, The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee: Organization and Duties,~~
~~by Ben Wilhelm.~~
~~Government Accountability Office~~
~~Government Accountability Office’s (GAO’s) June 2020 report,~~ ~~COVID-19: Opportunities to~~
~~Improve Federal Response and Recovery Efforts, includes detailed updates on the al ocation of~~

~~1 T wo additional oversight entities were created by the CARES Act~~ ,1 presents COVID-19 funding data from USAspending.gov through a variety of interactive visual displays. The “Track the Money” page features the following:  Funding Overview includes graphics showing funding by category–such as state, local, and tribal governments, higher education, and small businesses–and agency funding by category.  Funding Charts and Graphs presents data from various perspectives, including “Where is the money being spent?,” “Who is spending the money?,” “How is the money being spent?,” and obligation and spending data by federal agency.  Funding Map allows users to view award data by geographic area (state, county, congressional district, and zip code), award amount, and by funding type. The map’s zoom tool enables users to focus on data for individual zip codes. PRAC’s website is integrated with the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency’s website, the federal inspector general community’s oversight and coordination body. 1 The CARES Act created two additional oversight entities: (1) the Special Inspector General for Pandemic : (1) the Special Inspector General for Pandemic
Recovery (SIGPR),Recovery (SIGPR), which doeswhich does not appear to have a website but doesnot appear to have a website but does have a report that is available at have a report that is available at
https://www.oversight.gov/report/prig/special-inspector-general-pandemic-recovery-initial-reporthttps://www.oversight.gov/report/prig/special-inspector-general-pandemic-recovery-initial-report -congress, and (2) the -congress, and (2) the
Congressional Oversight Commission, at https://coc.senate.gov/. Congressional Oversight Commission, at https://coc.senate.gov/.
Congressional Research Service Congressional Research Service

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Resources for Tracking Federal COVID-19 Spending

For more information, see CRS Insight IN11343, The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee: Organization and Duties, by Ben Wilhelm. Government Accountability Office Government Accountability Office’s (GAO’s) June 2020 report, COVID-19: Opportunities to Improve Federal Response and Recovery Efforts, includes detailed updates on the allocation of obligated funds within categories such as relief for health care providers, COVID-19 testing, obligated funds within categories such as relief for health care providers, COVID-19 testing,
unemployment insurance, housing protections, and education. See Appendix III for unemployment insurance, housing protections, and education. See Appendix III for ~~al ocation~~allocation
information. Another GAO report provides an overview of contracting activity related to COVID-information. Another GAO report provides an overview of contracting activity related to COVID-
19 and focuses on the agencies that account for most of these obligations. GAO also issued a brief 19 and focuses on the agencies that account for most of these obligations. GAO also issued a brief
update on the initialupdate on the initial federal response to the pandemic, which includes data as of June 30, 2020, federal response to the pandemic, which includes data as of June 30, 2020,
on federal funding and spending by broad areas, such as business loan programs, unemployment on federal funding and spending by broad areas, such as business loan programs, unemployment
insurance, and economic impact payments.insurance, and economic impact payments.
COVID-19 Funding by Type of Recipient
State and Local Governments
 The Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) provides $150 provides $150 ~~bil ion~~billion in direct assistance to in direct assistance to
state, territorial, local, and tribal governments based on population. See CRS state, territorial, local, and tribal governments based on population. See CRS
Report R46298, Report R46298, The Coronavirus Relief Fund (CARES Act, Title V): Background
and State and Local Data, by Grant A. Driessen. For specific , by Grant A. Driessen. For specific ~~al ocations~~allocations to to
states, see Table 1. Treasury provides CRF interim reports onstates, see Table 1. Treasury provides CRF interim reports on
 costs incurred by state and local recipients and the District of Columbia and  costs incurred by state and local recipients and the District of Columbia and
territories through June 30, 2020, and territories through June 30, 2020, and
 costs by  costs by category incurred by state and local recipients and the District of incurred by state and local recipients and the District of
Columbia and territories through June 30, 2020. Columbia and territories through June 30, 2020.
~~Additional y,~~ Additionally, the National Conference of State Legislatures provides descriptions of and the National Conference of State Legislatures provides descriptions of and
links to state CRF oversight plans and a database detailinglinks to state CRF oversight plans and a database detailing state CRF actions. state CRF actions.
 State and local budget offices ~~may~~ may also be resources for information related to be resources for information related to
COVID-19 spending; publicly availableCOVID-19 spending; publicly available information may vary from one information may vary from one
jurisdiction to another. jurisdiction to another.
Businesses and Nonprofit Organizations
The The ~~Smal~~ Small Business Administration (SBA) Business Administration (SBA) ~~periodical y~~ periodically publishes reports and data on its publishes reports and data on its
programs, including data on approved loans for programs supporting disaster assistance and programs, including data on approved loans for programs supporting disaster assistance and
recovery: recovery:
  Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). SBA provides data on the number SBA provides data on the number
and amounts of approved EIDL loans and EIDL Advances (or Emergency EIDL and amounts of approved EIDL loans and EIDL Advances (or Emergency EIDL
grants) by state. grants) by state.
  Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). SBA provides information on loans of SBA provides information on loans of
$150,000 and above, including borrowers’ names, loan amount ranges, and $150,000 and above, including borrowers’ names, loan amount ranges, and
addresses. Information on loans of less than $150,000 is also available, with addresses. Information on loans of less than $150,000 is also available, with
borrowers’ names withheld. borrowers’ names withheld. ~~Additional y~~Additionally, SBA provides the total number and , SBA provides the total number and
amounts of approved PPP loans by state.amounts of approved PPP loans by state.
Congressional Research Service 2 Resources for Tracking Federal COVID-19 Spending For information on programs supporting For information on programs supporting ~~smal~~ small businesses that are administered from other federal businesses that are administered from other federal
agencies, see CRS Insight IN11301, agencies, see CRS Insight IN11301, Small Businesses and COVID-19: Relief and Assistance
Resources, by Maria Kreiser. , by Maria Kreiser.
Treasury Department and Federal Reserve programs: Treasury Department and Federal Reserve programs:
  Treasury’s Payroll Support Program supports passenger air carriers, cargo air supports passenger air carriers, cargo air
carriers, and certain contractors for continuing payment of employee wages, carriers, and certain contractors for continuing payment of employee wages,
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~~Resources for Tracking Federal COVID-19 Spending~~

salaries, and benefits. Treasury provides data tables on payments to recipients by salaries, and benefits. Treasury provides data tables on payments to recipients by
city and state. city and state.
  Treasury’s Loan Program provides loans to passenger air carriers, cargo air provides loans to passenger air carriers, cargo air
carriers, and businesses critical to national security. Recent press releases indicate carriers, and businesses critical to national security. Recent press releases indicate
that loans to major airlines and companies certified to be critical to maintaining that loans to major airlines and companies certified to be critical to maintaining
national security have been approved. Full transaction details are posted on the national security have been approved. Full transaction details are posted on the
Treasury website within 72 hours after a transaction is completed. Treasury website within 72 hours after a transaction is completed.
  The Federal Reserve (Fed) has access to CARES Act funds to provide has access to CARES Act funds to provide
emergency funding, credit, liquidity, and loans to businesses as emergency funding, credit, liquidity, and loans to businesses as ~~wel~~ well as nonprofit as nonprofit
organizations (through the Main Street Lending Program). The Fed’s website organizations (through the Main Street Lending Program). The Fed’s website
includes reporting on these programs and, in some cases, transaction-specific includes reporting on these programs and, in some cases, transaction-specific
disclosures. disclosures.
For information on Treasury- and Fed-facilitated business assistance programs, see CRS Report For information on Treasury- and Fed-facilitated business assistance programs, see CRS Report
R46329, R46329, Treasury and Federal Reserve Financial Assistance in Title IV of the CARES Act (P.L.
116-136), coordinated by Andrew P. Scott; and CRS Insight IN11368, , coordinated by Andrew P. Scott; and CRS Insight IN11368, Larger Businesses and
COVID-19: Financial Relief and Assistance Resources, by Julie Jennings. , by Julie Jennings.
Individuals
The CARES Act includes economic impact payments for individuals and families. Treasury and The CARES Act includes economic impact payments for individuals and families. Treasury and
the Internal Revenue Service provide data on these payments by state through periodic statements the Internal Revenue Service provide data on these payments by state through periodic statements
and announcements; the latest release was on and announcements; the latest release was on ~~July 17~~August 28, 2020. See CRS Report R46415, , 2020. See CRS Report R46415, CARES
Act (P.L. 116-136) Direct Payments: Resources and Experts, coordinated by Margot L. , coordinated by Margot L. ~~Crandal -~~
Crandall-Hollick. Hollick.
Grant Awards on Selected Federal Agency Websites
Several agencies provide information on COVID-19-related grant awards. Several agencies provide information on COVID-19-related grant awards.
  Department of Health and Human Services maintains a COVID-19 funding maintains a COVID-19 funding
overview website that provides details on COVID-19-related grant awards and overview website that provides details on COVID-19-related grant awards and
~~al ows~~allows for filtering by state and city. Each award in the table under the “COVID- for filtering by state and city. Each award in the table under the “COVID-
19 Award Details For Emergency Supplemental Appropriation Funding” heading 19 Award Details For Emergency Supplemental Appropriation Funding” heading
is linked to one of the funding is linked to one of the funding ~~bil s~~bills referenced above. The website also provides referenced above. The website also provides
state- and city-level funding data for the Provider Relief Fund, Rural Health state- and city-level funding data for the Provider Relief Fund, Rural Health
Clinic (RHC) COVID-19 Testing Fund, and the Uninsured Relief Fund. Clinic (RHC) COVID-19 Testing Fund, and the Uninsured Relief Fund.
  Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) released details on obligations to each state as of June 9, 2020, released details on obligations to each state as of June 9, 2020,
including data on FEMA-coordinated delivery of medical and personal protective including data on FEMA-coordinated delivery of medical and personal protective
equipment.equipment.
  Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides information provides information
on CARES Act funding at the state, county, and city levels for the Community on CARES Act funding at the state, county, and city levels for the Community
Congressional Research Service 3 Resources for Tracking Federal COVID-19 Spending Development Block Grant program, the Emergency Solutions Grants program, Development Block Grant program, the Emergency Solutions Grants program,
and the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program. HUD also and the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program. HUD also
announced specific announced specific ~~al ocations~~allocations to tribal communities and Fair Housing to tribal communities and Fair Housing
Assistance Program agencies. Assistance Program agencies.
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~~Resources for Tracking Federal COVID-19 Spending~~

  Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs provides information on Office of Justice Programs provides information on
awards by state/territory, county, and congressional district. Many of the recent awards by state/territory, county, and congressional district. Many of the recent
awards include “COVID-19” or “coronavirus” in the title. awards include “COVID-19” or “coronavirus” in the title.
  Department of Labor (DOL) provides information on approved funding from provides information on approved funding from
Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grants, by recipient state agency. DOL’s Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grants, by recipient state agency. DOL’s
Employment and Training Administration announces workforce-related grant Employment and Training Administration announces workforce-related grant
awards via press releases. awards via press releases.
  Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration posts press Economic Development Administration posts press
releases related to CARES Act assistance. releases related to CARES Act assistance.
  National Science Foundation identifies COVID-19-related awards in its awards identifies COVID-19-related awards in its awards
database by searching for the keywords “covid” or “coronavirus.” Filtering by database by searching for the keywords “covid” or “coronavirus.” Filtering by
state is available. state is available.
Other Resources
  Committee for a Responsible Budget’s COVID Money Tracker features papers, COVID Money Tracker features papers,
blogs, spreadsheets, data visualizations, and an interactive database for tracking blogs, spreadsheets, data visualizations, and an interactive database for tracking
funds. funds.
 According to congressional testimony from July 2020  According to congressional testimony from July 2020, and a note on its website, the the Project on
Government Oversight ~~wil~~ will be launching a comprehensive COVID-19 relief be launching a comprehensive COVID-19 relief
spending tracker. spending tracker.
  Rockefeller Institute of Government’s COVID-19 State Relief Dashboard is an COVID-19 State Relief Dashboard is an
interactive tool for viewing state interactive tool for viewing state ~~al ocation~~allocation data for programs such as CRF and data for programs such as CRF and
PPP. PPP.
  Federal Funds Information for States (FFIS) is a subscription-only service is a subscription-only service
attempting to track federal funding to states—including funding from the attempting to track federal funding to states—including funding from the
COVID-19 relief COVID-19 relief ~~bil s~~bills. Many state governments subscribe to FFIS. Information is . Many state governments subscribe to FFIS. Information is
limited for nonsubscribers. limited for nonsubscribers.

Author Information

Jennifer Teefy Jennifer Teefy
Maria Kreiser Maria Kreiser
Senior Research Librarian Senior Research Librarian
Senior Research Librarian Senior Research Librarian

Congressional Research Service Congressional Research Service

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Resources for Tracking Federal COVID-19 Spending

Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan
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R46491 R46491 · VERSION 46 · UPDATED
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