A federal program is a government initiative that is funded and administered by the national or central government, as opposed to being run by local or state authorities. These programs are usually created in response to specific needs within society, such as providing assistance to low-income families, supporting education and training, promoting research and development, or protecting the environment. The funding for these programs comes from taxes paid by citizens and is managed according to federal guidelines and policies. Examples of federal programs include Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, and student financial aid.