For fiscal year 2024, 16 agencies reported a total estimated $162 billion in improper payments across 68 programs. Agencies reported that about $135 billion (approximately 84 percent) of this total was the result of overpayments. About $121 billion (approximately 75 percent) was concentrated in five program areas. Eighteen federal programs reported improper payment rate estimates of at least 10 percent, including six programs whose rates ranged from over 25 percent to about 45 percent.
However, the improper payment estimates do not represent the full extent of government-wide improper payments. For instance, the $162 billion total represents a small subset of all federal programs and does not include certain programs that agencies have determined are susceptible to significant improper payments. These include the Department of Health and Human Services’ Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Public and Indian Housing’s Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, and the Small Business Administration’s Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program.
