Here are the federal expenditures for 2023 in seven line items in billions.
- Social Security $1,354
- Defense $1,191
- Medicare $848
- Interest $658
- Medicaid $616
- Welfare $485
- Other $983
- Total $6,135
Interest on our national debt is now the fourth largest expenditure. It is bigger than Medicaid and bigger than all the welfare programs combined. We are paying for our past spending indiscretions. Last year’s deficit was $1,694 billion—28% of total expenditures. This is not sustainable. Go, DOGE.
Here is more on federal spending. Here is more on welfare spending.
