The United States federal budget is over 23% of GDP.

Omissions

• The claim omits the reference period: on a fiscal-year basis the ratio is roughly 22.8–23.1% of GDP for FY2025 and 23.1–23.3% for FY2026, so the 'over 23%' threshold is met only marginally (a few tenths of a percentage point).
• CBO notes that 23.3% of GDP in 2026 is above the 50-year average of 21.2%, which is the relevant context for judging whether the level is 'high'.
• 'Federal budget' is ambiguous: if the speaker meant the budget deficit rather than total spending, the correct figure is about 5.8% of GDP (2026), not 23%.

Sources

• PrimaryCongressional Budget Office — The Budget and Economic Outlook: 2026 to 2036"Federal outlays are estimated to rise from 23.1 percent of GDP in 2025 to 23.3 percent in 2026—which is above their 50-year average of 21.2 ..."; also "In CBO's projections, federal outlays in 2026 total $7.4 trillion, or 23.3 percent of GDP."
• PrimaryU.S. Treasury — Treasury Bulletin, September 2026"$7.01 trillion (23.1 percent of GDP) in FY 2025, reflecting higher spending on Social Security, increased Medicare outlays, and higher net ..."
• PrimaryU.S. Treasury Fiscal Data — Federal Spending (America's Finance Guide)"The federal government spent $7.40 trillion in FY 2026. This means federal spending was equal to 0.2313946216385241 of the total gross domestic product (GDP)" — i.e. about 23.1% of GDP.
• PrimaryCongressional Budget Office — The Budget and Economic Outlook: 2026 to 2036 (deficit highlights)"In CBO's projections, the federal budget deficit in fiscal year 2026 is $1.9 trillion, and federal debt rises to 120 percent of GDP in 2036." / "federal outlays in 2026 total $7.4 trillion, or 23.3 percent of GDP."