How to Use the USAspending (Federal Spending) MCP in VS Code Copilot

Q: How do I analyze USAspending (Federal Spending) budgets using VS Code Copilot?

Start by calling getagencybudgetaryresources. This tool gets the budgetary resources and obligations for an agency across various fiscal years. Your team can then use this data in any code file.

Q: Can VS Code Copilot help me check geographical spending using USAspending (Federal Spending)?

Yes. Run searchspendingbygeography. This allows the whole team to generate data filtered by state, county, or congressional district, which is crucial for regional reporting.

Q: If I use USAspending (Federal Spending) with VS Code Copilot, how do I get recipient information?

Use getrecipient to pull basic details on a specified state or individual recipient. For comprehensive lists, the team can run listrecipients.

Q: Which MCP Server tools should I use for tracking USAspending (Federal Spending) over time?

Use searchnewawardsovertime to see historical periods with new awards. For cumulative spending, searchspendingovertime is your best bet.

Manage US Federal Spending queries across teams using VS Code Copilot's MCP Server setup.

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Connect USAspending (Federal Spending) MCP to VS Code Copilot

Create your Vinkius account to connect USAspending (Federal Spending) to VS Code Copilot 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 VS Code Copilot

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Get Agency Financial Overviews with the MCP Server.

Need a quick check on an agency’s spending profile? Use `get_agency_overview` to pull foundational data into your project scope. You can pair this with `get_agency_awards_count` to count how many award types they managed in a specific fiscal year. For deeper dives, the MCP Server supports `get_agency_sub_agencies`, listing sub-offices and their obligated amounts for team review.

Search and Filter Spending Data.

Start your analysis by using `search_spending_by_category`. This function lets the entire team filter awards based on CFDA, agency, or recipient. It's a single command that works for everyone. To track spending over time, run `search_spending_over_time`. This generates an aggregated data structure you can commit and reference across multiple files.

Locate Award Details with Copilot Chat.

When a developer needs details on one specific award, they call `get_award`. The MCP Server provides all the necessary fields into the shared workspace. It's perfect for generating documentation or testing data pipelines. To see all potential awards in scope, use `get_toptier_agencies` to list major players and their relevant spending metrics.

Setup guide

Set up USAspending (Federal Spending) MCP in VS Code Copilot

Prerequisites

VS Code 1.99 or later with GitHub Copilot extension
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open MCP configuration

Open the Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P / Ctrl+Shift+P) and run "MCP: Add Server". Select HTTP (Streamable) as the server type. VS Code will create .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace.
2

Add the USAspending (Federal Spending) MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into your .vscode/mcp.json. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Switch to Agent mode

Open Copilot Chat (Cmd+Shift+I / Ctrl+Shift+I) and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode — they do not appear in Edit or Ask modes.
4

Verify the connection

In the Copilot Chat input, type # to list available tools. You should see the USAspending (Federal Spending) tools listed. Try asking: "List my recent USAspending (Federal Spending) transactions" and Copilot will invoke them automatically.

.vscode/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 VS Code Copilot

Start by calling `get_agency_budgetary_resources`. This tool gets the budgetary resources and obligations for an agency across various fiscal years. Your team can then use this data in any code file.

The server handles public financial metrics, including award amounts, transaction records, and agency identifiers. It is designed to work only with aggregated or publicly reported federal spending figures.

Yes. Run `search_spending_by_geography`. This allows the whole team to generate data filtered by state, county, or congressional district, which is crucial for regional reporting.

Use `get_recipient` to pull basic details on a specified state or individual recipient. For comprehensive lists, the team can run `list_recipients`.

Use `search_new_awards_over_time` to see historical periods with new awards. For cumulative spending, `search_spending_over_time` is your best bet.

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