Spending

Explore the entire US Federal Budget quickly and easily. Balance the budget to reduce the National Debt. Learn how your Federal taxes are spent. Do you know where your money goes? The largest item in the U.S. Federal Budget is health care. Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security each receive about 20% of Federal expenses. National Defense requires almost 20%. Finally, interest payments require over 10% because of the National Debt built up over previous years.

Federal Deficits and Surpluses

US National Debt

Federal Budget Expenses

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Estimate spending by choosing from the "10%" menus.

Then click "Amounts" to see current spending amounts.

Budget deficits occur when we take in less money than we spend -- that is, when budget receipts are exceeded by outlays.

Receipts come mostly from Income and Social Security taxes, paid by people like you.

Outlays go to... well, where does your money go? Can you estimate the percentage of the Federal Budget spent on these items?

Next: Amounts