Special Report
How Federal Relief Fails to Match Each State's COVID Outbreak
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Last Updated:
On March 27, 2020, President Donald Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The $2 trillion relief bill is meant to provide crucial support to individuals, businesses, and local governments with the COVID-19 crisis.
Approximately $150 billion of the CARES Act funding — the Coronavirus Relief Fund — is designated for state, local, and tribal governments, and territories. Funding is allocated to states using a population-based formula that provides roughly $425 per state resident. All states will receive at least $1.25 billion in relief funding, so states with fewer than 4 million residents are entitled to much higher amounts of funding per capita.
While the CARES Act is the largest economic stimulus package ever passed in U.S. history, the blunt funding formula may ignore the relative severity of each state’s COVID-19 problem and leave some states without adequate funding.
Wyoming, for example, which has 50 confirmed cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 residents, is set to receive over 120 times more funding per COVID-19 case than New York, which tops this list of the states with the highest number of COVID-19 cases.
To determine federal funding to states per COVID-19 case, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on CARES Act funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, as well as 2019 population data from the Census Bureau. Data on COVID-19 case and death counts was collected from state and local health departments by 24/7 Wall St. and is current as of April 16, 2020.
Click here to see how federal relief fails to match each state’s COVID outbreak
Click here to read our detailed findings and methodology
1. Alabama
> Federal funding: $431,713 per confirmed COVID-19 case (19th lowest)
> Total federal funding: $1.90 billion (24th highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 4,404 cases (22nd highest), 137 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 89.8 cases per 100,000 residents (23rd highest)
> Total population: 4.90 million (24th largest)
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2. Alaska
> Federal funding: $4.17 million per confirmed COVID-19 case (2nd highest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 300 cases (2nd lowest), 9 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 41.0 cases per 100,000 residents (4th lowest)
> Total population: 731,545 (3rd smallest)
3. Arizona
> Federal funding: $666,604 per confirmed COVID-19 case (21st highest)
> Total federal funding: $2.82 billion (14th highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 4,234 cases (23rd highest), 150 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 58.2 cases per 100,000 residents (15th lowest)
> Total population: 7.28 million (14th largest)
4. Arkansas
> Federal funding: $771,605 per confirmed COVID-19 case (17th highest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 1,620 cases (15th lowest), 37 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 53.7 cases per 100,000 residents (10th lowest)
> Total population: 3.02 million (18th smallest)
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5. California
> Federal funding: $544,157 per confirmed COVID-19 case (25th lowest)
> Total federal funding: $15.32 billion (the highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 28,156 cases (5th highest), 973 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 71.3 cases per 100,000 residents (20th lowest)
> Total population: 39.51 million (the largest)
6. Colorado
> Federal funding: $257,408 per confirmed COVID-19 case (11th lowest)
> Total federal funding: $2.23 billion (21st highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 8,675 cases (16th highest), 374 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 150.6 cases per 100,000 residents (13th highest)
> Total population: 5.76 million (21st largest)
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7. Connecticut
> Federal funding: $87,036 per confirmed COVID-19 case (5th lowest)
> Total federal funding: $1.38 billion (22nd lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 15,884 cases (12th highest), 971 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 445.5 cases per 100,000 residents (5th highest)
> Total population: 3.57 million (22nd smallest)
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8. Delaware
> Federal funding: $602,410 per confirmed COVID-19 case (23rd highest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 2,075 cases (18th lowest), 52 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 213.1 cases per 100,000 residents (9th highest)
> Total population: 973,764 (6th smallest)
9. Florida
> Federal funding: $345,297 per confirmed COVID-19 case (16th lowest)
> Total federal funding: $8.33 billion (3rd highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 24,119 cases (8th highest), 699 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 112.3 cases per 100,000 residents (19th highest)
> Total population: 21.48 million (3rd largest)
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10. Georgia
> Federal funding: $251,529 per confirmed COVID-19 case (10th lowest)
> Total federal funding: $4.12 billion (8th highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 16,368 cases (11th highest), 617 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 154.2 cases per 100,000 residents (12th highest)
> Total population: 10.62 million (8th largest)
11. Hawaii
> Federal funding: $2.31 million per confirmed COVID-19 case (5th highest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 541 cases (5th lowest), 9 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 38.2 cases per 100,000 residents (2nd lowest)
> Total population: 1.42 million (11th smallest)
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12. Idaho
> Federal funding: $776,880 per confirmed COVID-19 case (16th highest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 1,609 cases (14th lowest), 41 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 90.0 cases per 100,000 residents (22nd highest)
> Total population: 1.79 million (12th smallest)
13. Illinois
> Federal funding: $190,947 per confirmed COVID-19 case (8th lowest)
> Total federal funding: $4.91 billion (6th highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 25,733 cases (7th highest), 1,072 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 203.1 cases per 100,000 residents (10th highest)
> Total population: 12.67 million (6th largest)
14. Indiana
> Federal funding: $273,579 per confirmed COVID-19 case (13th lowest)
> Total federal funding: $2.61 billion (17th highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 9,542 cases (15th highest), 477 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 141.7 cases per 100,000 residents (16th highest)
> Total population: 6.73 million (17th largest)
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15. Iowa
> Federal funding: $583,839 per confirmed COVID-19 case (24th highest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 2,141 cases (19th lowest), 60 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 67.9 cases per 100,000 residents (19th lowest)
> Total population: 3.16 million (20th smallest)
16. Kansas
> Federal funding: $787,154 per confirmed COVID-19 case (14th highest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 1,588 cases (12th lowest), 80 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 54.5 cases per 100,000 residents (12th lowest)
> Total population: 2.91 million (16th smallest)
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17. Kentucky
> Federal funding: $713,210 per confirmed COVID-19 case (19th highest)
> Total federal funding: $1.73 billion (25th lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 2,429 cases (21st lowest), 129 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 54.4 cases per 100,000 residents (11th lowest)
> Total population: 4.47 million (25th smallest)
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18. Louisiana
> Federal funding: $80,003 per confirmed COVID-19 case (3rd lowest)
> Total federal funding: $1.80 billion (25th highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 22,532 cases (9th highest), 1,156 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 484.7 cases per 100,000 residents (3rd highest)
> Total population: 4.65 million (25th largest)
19. Maine
> Federal funding: $1.57 million per confirmed COVID-19 case (8th highest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 796 cases (8th lowest), 27 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 59.2 cases per 100,000 residents (16th lowest)
> Total population: 1.34 million (9th smallest)
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20. Maryland
> Federal funding: $202,582 per confirmed COVID-19 case (9th lowest)
> Total federal funding: $2.34 billion (19th highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 11,572 cases (13th highest), 425 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 191.4 cases per 100,000 residents (11th highest)
> Total population: 6.05 million (19th largest)
21. Massachusetts
> Federal funding: $83,050 per confirmed COVID-19 case (4th lowest)
> Total federal funding: $2.67 billion (15th highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 32,181 cases (3rd highest), 1,245 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 466.9 cases per 100,000 residents (4th highest)
> Total population: 6.89 million (15th largest)
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22. Michigan
> Federal funding: $132,335 per confirmed COVID-19 case (6th lowest)
> Total federal funding: $3.87 billion (10th highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 29,263 cases (4th highest), 2,093 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 293.0 cases per 100,000 residents (7th highest)
> Total population: 9.99 million (10th largest)
23. Minnesota
> Federal funding: $1.14 million per confirmed COVID-19 case (10th highest)
> Total federal funding: $2.19 billion (22nd highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 1,912 cases (17th lowest), 94 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 33.9 cases per 100,000 residents (the lowest)
> Total population: 5.64 million (22nd largest)
24. Mississippi
> Federal funding: $344,923 per confirmed COVID-19 case (15th lowest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 3,624 cases (24th lowest), 129 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 121.8 cases per 100,000 residents (18th highest)
> Total population: 2.98 million (17th smallest)
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25. Missouri
> Federal funding: $465,634 per confirmed COVID-19 case (21st lowest)
> Total federal funding: $2.38 billion (18th highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 5,111 cases (21st highest), 152 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 83.3 cases per 100,000 residents (24th lowest)
> Total population: 6.14 million (18th largest)
26. Montana
> Federal funding: $3.01 million per confirmed COVID-19 case (4th highest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 415 cases (4th lowest), 7 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 38.8 cases per 100,000 residents (3rd lowest)
> Total population: 1.07 million (8th smallest)
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27. Nebraska
> Federal funding: $1.17 million per confirmed COVID-19 case (9th highest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 1,066 cases (9th lowest), 24 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 55.1 cases per 100,000 residents (13th lowest)
> Total population: 1.93 million (14th smallest)
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28. Nevada
> Federal funding: $376,393 per confirmed COVID-19 case (17th lowest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 3,321 cases (23rd lowest), 142 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 107.8 cases per 100,000 residents (20th highest)
> Total population: 3.08 million (19th smallest)
29. New Hampshire
> Federal funding: $1.03 million per confirmed COVID-19 case (11th highest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 1,211 cases (10th lowest), 34 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 89.1 cases per 100,000 residents (24th highest)
> Total population: 1.36 million (10th smallest)
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30. New Jersey
> Federal funding: $45,729 per confirmed COVID-19 case (2nd lowest)
> Total federal funding: $3.44 billion (11th highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 75,317 cases (2nd highest), 3,518 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 848.0 cases per 100,000 residents (2nd highest)
> Total population: 8.88 million (11th largest)
31. New Mexico
> Federal funding: $782,718 per confirmed COVID-19 case (15th highest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 1,597 cases (13th lowest), 44 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 76.2 cases per 100,000 residents (22nd lowest)
> Total population: 2.10 million (15th smallest)
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32. New York
> Federal funding: $33,936 per confirmed COVID-19 case (the lowest)
> Total federal funding: $7.54 billion (4th highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 222,284 cases (the highest), 12,192 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 1,142.6 cases per 100,000 residents (the highest)
> Total population: 19.45 million (4th largest)
33. North Carolina
> Federal funding: $744,166 per confirmed COVID-19 case (18th highest)
> Total federal funding: $4.07 billion (9th highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 5,465 cases (20th highest), 131 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 52.1 cases per 100,000 residents (9th lowest)
> Total population: 10.49 million (9th largest)
34. North Dakota
> Federal funding: $3.18 million per confirmed COVID-19 case (3rd highest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 393 cases (3rd lowest), 9 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 51.6 cases per 100,000 residents (8th lowest)
> Total population: 762,062 (4th smallest)
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35. Ohio
> Federal funding: $538,694 per confirmed COVID-19 case (24th lowest)
> Total federal funding: $4.53 billion (7th highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 8,414 cases (17th highest), 389 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 72.0 cases per 100,000 residents (21st lowest)
> Total population: 11.69 million (7th largest)
36. Oklahoma
> Federal funding: $650,979 per confirmed COVID-19 case (22nd highest)
> Total federal funding: $1.53 billion (23rd lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 2,357 cases (20th lowest), 131 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 59.6 cases per 100,000 residents (17th lowest)
> Total population: 3.96 million (23rd smallest)
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37. Oregon
> Federal funding: $942,092 per confirmed COVID-19 case (13th highest)
> Total federal funding: $1.64 billion (24th lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 1,736 cases (16th lowest), 64 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 41.2 cases per 100,000 residents (5th lowest)
> Total population: 4.22 million (24th smallest)
38. Pennsylvania
> Federal funding: $178,984 per confirmed COVID-19 case (7th lowest)
> Total federal funding: $4.96 billion (5th highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 27,735 cases (6th highest), 707 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 216.6 cases per 100,000 residents (8th highest)
> Total population: 12.80 million (5th largest)
39. Rhode Island
> Federal funding: $325,690 per confirmed COVID-19 case (14th lowest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 3,838 cases (25th lowest), 105 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 362.3 cases per 100,000 residents (6th highest)
> Total population: 1.06 million (7th smallest)
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40. South Carolina
> Federal funding: $507,878 per confirmed COVID-19 case (23rd lowest)
> Total federal funding: $2.00 billion (23rd highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 3,931 cases (24th highest), 109 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 76.3 cases per 100,000 residents (23rd lowest)
> Total population: 5.15 million (23rd largest)
41. South Dakota
> Federal funding: $953,471 per confirmed COVID-19 case (12th highest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 1,311 cases (11th lowest), 7 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 148.2 cases per 100,000 residents (14th highest)
> Total population: 884,659 (5th smallest)
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42. Tennessee
> Federal funding: $422,882 per confirmed COVID-19 case (18th lowest)
> Total federal funding: $2.65 billion (16th highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 6,262 cases (19th highest), 141 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 91.7 cases per 100,000 residents (21st highest)
> Total population: 6.83 million (16th largest)
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43. Texas
> Federal funding: $683,285 per confirmed COVID-19 case (20th highest)
> Total federal funding: $11.24 billion (2nd highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 16,455 cases (10th highest), 393 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 56.7 cases per 100,000 residents (14th lowest)
> Total population: 29.00 million (2nd largest)
44. Utah
> Federal funding: $465,896 per confirmed COVID-19 case (22nd lowest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 2,683 cases (22nd lowest), 21 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 83.7 cases per 100,000 residents (25th lowest)
> Total population: 3.21 million (21st smallest)
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45. Vermont
> Federal funding: $1.60 million per confirmed COVID-19 case (7th highest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 779 cases (7th lowest), 35 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 124.8 cases per 100,000 residents (17th highest)
> Total population: 623,989 (2nd smallest)
46. Virginia
> Federal funding: $441,829 per confirmed COVID-19 case (20th lowest)
> Total federal funding: $3.31 billion (12th highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 7,491 cases (18th highest), 231 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 87.8 cases per 100,000 residents (25th highest)
> Total population: 8.54 million (12th largest)
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47. Washington
> Federal funding: $264,774 per confirmed COVID-19 case (12th lowest)
> Total federal funding: $2.95 billion (13th highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 11,152 cases (14th highest), 583 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 146.4 cases per 100,000 residents (15th highest)
> Total population: 7.61 million (13th largest)
48. West Virginia
> Federal funding: $1.66 million per confirmed COVID-19 case (6th highest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 754 cases (6th lowest), 13 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 42.1 cases per 100,000 residents (6th lowest)
> Total population: 1.79 million (13th smallest)
49. Wisconsin
> Federal funding: $582,635 per confirmed COVID-19 case (25th highest)
> Total federal funding: $2.26 billion (20th highest)
> COVID-19 impact: 3,875 cases (25th highest), 197 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 66.6 cases per 100,000 residents (18th lowest)
> Total population: 5.82 million (20th largest)
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50. Wyoming
> Federal funding: $4.34 million per confirmed COVID-19 case (the highest)
> Total federal funding: $1.25 billion (tied — the lowest)
> COVID-19 impact: 288 cases (the lowest), 2 deaths
> COVID-19 infection rate: 49.8 cases per 100,000 residents (7th lowest)
> Total population: 578,759 (the smallest)
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