How to Use the USAspending (Federal Spending) MCP in Cursor

Q: How do I use USAspending (Federal Spending) data filtering with Cursor?

You can filter spending using searchspendingbycategory. The AI client generates the necessary parameters for CFDA, agency, or recipient to narrow down your search results immediately in your code.

Q: Can Cursor help me analyze USAspending (Federal Spending) data for specific recipients?

Yes. Use getrecipient to pull recipient details directly into your code block. If you need a list of all possible recipients, run the listrecipients tool first.

Q: If I use USAspending (Federal Spending) with Cursor, how do I handle bulk data?

For large datasets, trigger either downloadsearch or bulkdownloadawards. The returned job status via getdownloadstatus lets your code know exactly when the ZIP file is ready to process.

Q: Which tools can I use in Cursor for agency funding information related to USAspending (Federal Spending)?

You should call getawardfunding. This tool pulls together the federal account and agency funding details, giving you precise input data for your financial models.

Inject live US Federal Spending data directly into your code using Cursor's MCP tools.

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Connect USAspending (Federal Spending) MCP to Cursor

Create your Vinkius account to connect USAspending (Federal Spending) to Cursor and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup USAspending (Federal Spending) with Cursor

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Fetch Award Summaries with the MCP Server.

Writing a script that needs to check agency spending? Your AI client can call `get_agency_awards` and inject the summary data directly into your function body. You get transaction counts and obligation amounts, right where you're typing. If you need an overview of potential funding sources, use `get_disaster_overview`. This populates a variable with key insights on emergency spending.

Map Spending by Geography in Code.

Building a visualization that needs location data? Use `search_spending_by_geography` to get structured spending totals broken down by state or county. The AI generates the necessary JSON object for your code to consume. For time-series analysis, call `search_spending_over_time`. This populates an array with aggregated transaction amounts over specific date ranges.

Get Full Award Context.

Need the full context for a single grant? The AI can execute `get_award`, pulling all necessary details into your script's scope. You don't need to leave Cursor to get this data. If you are tracking related parties, run `get_subawards` using a parent award ID. This allows the generated code to map out every sub-agency tied to that main grant.

Setup guide

Set up USAspending (Federal Spending) MCP in Cursor

Prerequisites

Cursor installed (macOS, Windows, or Linux)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open MCP Settings

Go to Cursor Settings → MCP or open the Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P / Ctrl+Shift+P) and search for "MCP: Add Server".
2

Add the USAspending (Federal Spending) MCP

Cursor will create or open .cursor/mcp.json in your project root. Paste the JSON snippet on the right. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Enable Agent mode

Open Composer (Cmd+I / Ctrl+I) and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown at the top. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode.
4

Verify the connection

Ask Cursor something like "List my recent USAspending (Federal Spending) transactions." If the MCP tools are loaded correctly, Cursor will call the USAspending (Federal Spending) tools automatically. You can also check Settings → MCP for a green status indicator.

.cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "usaspending-federal-spending-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by USAspending. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about USAspending (Federal Spending) MCP in Cursor

You can filter spending using `search_spending_by_category`. The AI client generates the necessary parameters for CFDA, agency, or recipient to narrow down your search results immediately in your code.

This MCP Server handles public financial records: award totals, federal account numbers, and agency identifiers. It never touches personal identifying information like SSNs or private addresses.

Yes. Use `get_recipient` to pull recipient details directly into your code block. If you need a list of all possible recipients, run the `list_recipients` tool first.

For large datasets, trigger either `download_search` or `bulk_download_awards`. The returned job status via `get_download_status` lets your code know exactly when the ZIP file is ready to process.

You should call `get_award_funding`. This tool pulls together the federal account and agency funding details, giving you precise input data for your financial models.

Use it with your favorite AI tools

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