What is the largest component of the federal budget?
A) discretionary spending
B) entitlements and mandatory spending
C) net interest
D) defense spending

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Entitlements and mandatory spending make up the largest component of the federal budget, accounting for roughly two-thirds of all federal spending. This includes programs like Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid, which provide government benefits and services that are required by law. Discretionary spending, which includes things like defense spending and funding for education and infrastructure, accounts for only about one-third of the budget. Net interest, or the amount of money the government pays on its debt, is also a significant portion of the budget, but it is smaller than entitlements and mandatory spending.

What Is the Largest Component of the Federal Budget