Jonathan Pulley, Alexander Fos, and Sanghyun Cho
Executive Summary:
We use publicly available federal data to compare the distribution of federal contract dollars to Wisconsin and the broader Midwest.
Wisconsin accounts for 11 percent of new federal obligations within the Midwest in 2021–23. The majority of Midwest federal contract obligations (35 percent, 2021–23) are received by Illinois.
- Manufacturing is the largest sector receiving federal contract obligations, representing 66
percent of Wisconsin’s obligations and 63 percent of the broader Midwest’s obligations (excluding
Wisconsin); - The Department of Defense (DoD) is the largest awarding agency, representing 64 percent
of awarded contract dollars in Wisconsin and 77 percent of awarded contract dollars in the
broader Midwest (excluding Wisconsin); - In Wisconsin, Oshkosh Defense Corporation represents 33 percent of federal new obligations.
UnitedHealth Group has the second-highest concentration (9 percent); - In the broader Midwest (excluding Wisconsin), General Dynamics is the largest single recipient,
accounting for 8 percent of obligations.