IRS Presidential Campaign Fund Checkoff Declines as Congress Redirects Funds
The Presidential Election Campaign Fund, established to support presidential campaigns through taxpayer contributions, has seen a significant decline in participation. Initially, nearly a third of U.S. taxpayers opted to allocate $3 of their taxes to the fund, but this figure has dwindled to around 3 percent. The fund was created in 1976 as a response to the Watergate scandal, aiming to provide federal financing for campaigns and political conventions. However, Congress has redirected funds to other areas, such as pediatric medical research and the Election Assistance Commission. In 2024, Congress withdrew $320 million from the fund to enhance Secret Service protection for candidates, leaving the fund with only $23.5 million as of February 2026. 
