Here are the most federally dependent states in 2026, data suggests

Here are the most federally dependent states in 2026, data suggests

From disaster recovery to local school funding, a new analysis reveals which states are the most reliant on federal resources. See where your state ranks.

Study pinpoints most federally dependent states

Things like K-12 education, local law enforcement, and regional transit are best managed by people who actually live in those zip codes.

Wallethub: Indiana is 8th Most Federally Dependent State

Source: Wallethub / Wallethub STATEWIDE–Indiana is considered the 8th most federally dependent state, according to a study from Wallethub. To assess how federal dependence varies across the country, WalletHub compared all 50 states using three key metrics: the return on federal taxes paid, the share of federal jobs, and federal funding as a percentage of state revenue. Indiana was ranked 7th in return on taxes paid to the federal government and …