Spending Explorer Question: I notice that the “total amount spent” listed on the homepage is different from what’s listed on the Spending Explorer. Why is that?

An excellent question! The number on the homepage represents outlays for 2017 (what the federal government has actually spent), while the number featured on the Spending Explorer page represents obligations for 2018 to date (what the government has agreed to spend). A discrepancy between obligations and outlays is normal — the government first obligates funding, then outlays against it. To learn more about obligations versus outlays, read this post.