Fiscal Year 2016 (FY 2016) refers to the 12-month period that began on October 1, 2015, and ended on September 30, 2016, for the United States federal government. During this time, the government planned and executed its budget, allocating funds for various programs and services. In FY 2016, the total federal budget was approximately $3.9 trillion. Key areas of spending included $Social Security, $Medicare, and $defense. The fiscal year also saw discussions about budget deficits and the national debt, which were important topics in economic policy debates.