Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Federal Budget Dashboard ("the Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use the Service. We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time, and your continued use of the Service constitutes acceptance of any changes.

2. Description of Service

The Federal Budget Dashboard is a free, publicly accessible data visualization tool that presents information about U.S. federal spending. The Service aggregates publicly available government data and presents it through interactive visualizations and comparative analyses for educational and informational purposes.

3. Data Accuracy Disclaimer

While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, the Service is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Specifically:

• Data is sourced from official government databases (primarily USAspending.gov) and is subject to the accuracy and timeliness of those sources.
• Budget figures may reflect budget authority, obligations, or outlays depending on context. These represent different stages of the spending process and are not interchangeable.
• Comparisons and calculations are illustrative and intended to make large numbers comprehensible. They do not constitute financial, policy, or professional advice.
• There may be delays between government data updates and their reflection in the Service.
• Rounding, aggregation, and visualization choices may affect precision.

We are not liable for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in the data presented, nor for any decisions made based on this information. Users requiring precise budget data for professional, legal, or policy purposes should consult primary government sources directly.

4. Permitted Use

You may use the Service for personal, educational, journalistic, and non-commercial purposes. You agree not to:

• Use automated systems to access the Service in a manner that exceeds reasonable request volumes or degrades service for others.
• Misrepresent the source or nature of the data presented.
• Use the Service to spread misinformation or manipulate public understanding of government spending.
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Service's systems or data.
• Remove or obscure attribution when sharing content from the Service.

5. Attribution Requirements

When sharing visualizations, comparisons, or data from the Service, you must provide appropriate attribution:

For social media and embedded content, a visible link to the Service or mention of "Federal Budget Dashboard" satisfies this requirement. When using screenshots or static images, include the attribution within the image or in the accompanying caption.

You may not imply endorsement by the Service or any government agency when sharing this content.

6. Intellectual Property

The underlying federal budget data is public domain as U.S. government work. The Service's original visualizations, design, code, and comparative analyses are provided under an open-source license. You may use, modify, and redistribute these elements in accordance with the applicable license terms available in our source repository.

7. No Government Affiliation

The Federal Budget Dashboard is an independent project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any U.S. government agency, including the Department of the Treasury, Office of Management and Budget, or USAspending.gov. References to government data sources indicate the origin of the data, not an official relationship.

8. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Service and its operators shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Service. This includes, without limitation, damages for loss of profits, data, or other intangible losses, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

9. Service Modifications

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Service at any time without notice. We are not liable for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation of the Service.

10. Governing Law

These Terms of Service shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States. Any disputes arising from these terms or your use of the Service shall be resolved in the appropriate courts of competent jurisdiction.

11. Contact

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at legal@budgetdashboard.gov.