Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA): What It Was

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) was a comprehensive listing of all federal programs that provided assistance to state and local governments, individuals, and businesses. It was published annually by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and was used by federal agencies, state and local governments, and the public to find information about federal programs.

The CFDA was first published in 1965 and was updated annually. It included information on the program name, agency administering the program, program goals, eligibility requirements, and funding levels. The CFDA was also used to track federal spending on domestic assistance programs.

In 2016, the OMB discontinued the CFDA and replaced it with the Federal Assistance Listing System (FALSA). FALSA is a web-based system that provides information on federal programs that provide assistance to state and local governments, individuals, and businesses. FALSA is updated daily and includes more information than the CFDA, including program descriptions, application instructions, and funding levels.

The CFDA was a valuable resource for information on federal domestic assistance programs. However, it was not without its limitations. The CFDA was often out-of-date, and it did not include information on all federal programs that provided assistance to state and local governments, individuals, and businesses. FALSA is a more comprehensive and up-to-date resource for information on federal domestic assistance programs.