Public spending on children represents an effort to invest in the nation's future. Investments supporting children's healthy development and human potential can promote their well-being and help them grow into the next generation of adults and workers, leading to a stronger workforce and economy.To inform policymakers, children's advocates, and the general public about how public funds are spent on children, this 16th edition of the annual Kids' Share report provides an updated analysis of federal expenditures on children from 1960 to 2021. It also offers an updated view of public expenditures made in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Projections of federal expenditures on children through 2032 give a sense of how budget priorities are scheduled to unfold over the longer term under current law
