# How to use US Public Money

A clearly labelled sample of US public-spending buyer, supplier and award records.

## Start with a precise record

Use the name, identifier or place you want to investigate. The website scope is: A clearly labelled sample of US public-spending buyer, supplier and award records.

## Compare like with like

Open the relevant records and guides below. Keep identifiers, geography, units and source dates together; a record with a similar name or a different reporting period may answer a different question.

## Take the evidence to the original source

Follow the source references before making a consequential decision. Treat missing or historical information as a limitation, and use the relevant authority or provider for a current determination.

## Tools and records

- [Start a search on uspublicmoney.com](https://uspublicmoney.com/)
- [Reports](https://uspublicmoney.com/reports)
- [Agencies](https://uspublicmoney.com/agencies)
- [Concentration](https://uspublicmoney.com/reports/concentration)

## Question guides

- [What is the current federal government budget?](https://uspublicmoney.com/task-guides/what-is-the-current-federal-government-budget/index.md)
- [What does it mean for federal funds to be obligated?](https://uspublicmoney.com/task-guides/what-does-it-mean-for-federal-funds-to-be-obligated/index.md)
- [What does "discretionary spending" mean?](https://uspublicmoney.com/task-guides/what-does-discretionary-spending-mean/index.md)

Source: https://uspublicmoney.com/ (first-party website; inspected 2026-10-18).