The Pie Chart Shows Federal Spending In 2010
Have you ever wondered where your tax dollars go? The pie chart below shows the breakdown of federal spending in 2010. This data was collected by the Office of Management and Budget and provides a clear picture of how the government allocated its resources that year.
Defense
The largest portion of federal spending in 2010 went to defense. This category includes things like military personnel, equipment, and operations. In total, the government spent $664 billion on defense, which accounted for 20% of the total budget.
Social Security
The second largest category of federal spending in 2010 was Social Security. This program provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to eligible Americans. The government spent $701 billion on Social Security, which accounted for 21% of the total budget.
Medicare
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for Americans aged 65 and older, as well as younger people with certain disabilities. The government spent $519 billion on Medicare in 2010, which accounted for 15% of the total budget.
Income Security
Income security programs provide support to low-income Americans, including food assistance, housing subsidies, and unemployment benefits. The government spent $431 billion on income security in 2010, which accounted for 13% of the total budget.
Other Categories
The remaining federal spending in 2010 was spread across a variety of categories. These included:
- Net interest on the national debt - $196 billion (6% of the total budget)
- Transportation - $104 billion (3% of the total budget)
- Education - $95 billion (3% of the total budget)
- Veterans' benefits - $94 billion (3% of the total budget)
- Health - $89 billion (3% of the total budget)
- International affairs - $57 billion (2% of the total budget)
- Science and environment - $43 billion (1% of the total budget)
Conclusion
The pie chart above provides a clear breakdown of federal spending in 2010. While defense, Social Security, and Medicare accounted for the largest portions of the budget, many other important programs and initiatives received funding as well. Understanding how the government spends our tax dollars is an important part of being an informed citizen.
