Special Poll
There are several ways to measure a state’s dependence on the federal government, such as the amount of federal funding it receives, the number of federal employees it has, or the percentage of its population that relies on federal assistance programs. Here are some examples based on different criteria:
- Federal Funding: According to data from the Tax Foundation, the top five states that receive the most federal funding per capita are:
- New Mexico
- Mississippi
- Alaska
- Louisiana
- West Virginia
- Federal Employment: According to the Office of Personnel Management, the top five states with the most federal employees are:
- California
- Texas
- Virginia
- Maryland
- Florida
- Federal Assistance Programs: According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the top five states with the highest percentage of their population enrolled in Medicaid (a federal-state program that provides healthcare coverage to low-income individuals) are:
- New Mexico
- West Virginia
- Louisiana
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
It’s worth noting that measuring a state’s dependence on the federal government is complex, and different criteria may yield different results. Additionally, some states may receive more federal funding or have more federal employees simply because they have larger populations or more federal facilities, such as military bases or national parks.