Appropriations bills make up less than a third of all federal spending
% of total federal expenditures, by fiscal year and category
Note: “Discretionary” refers to federal expenditures that are controlled via annual appropriations laws. “Mandatory” refers to expenditures provided for by permanent laws, occurring independently of the appropriations process. “Net interest” refers to interest payments on federal debt securities, less interest received by federal trust funds and other investment income.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of data from the Office of Management and Budget.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of data from the Office of Management and Budget.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Appropriations bills make up less than a third of all federal spending
% of total federal expenditures, by fiscal year and category
| Fiscal year | Mandatory | Net interest | Discretionary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 44.5% | 7.3% | 48.2% |
| 1978 | 44.6% | 7.7% | 47.7% |
| 1979 | 43.9% | 8.5% | 47.6% |
| 1980 | 44.4% | 8.9% | 46.8% |
| 1981 | 44.5% | 10.1% | 45.4% |
| 1982 | 44.9% | 11.4% | 43.7% |
| 1983 | 45.2% | 11.1% | 43.7% |
| 1984 | 42.4% | 13.0% | 44.5% |
| 1985 | 42.4% | 13.7% | 43.9% |
| 1986 | 42.0% | 13.7% | 44.3% |
| 1987 | 42.0% | 13.8% | 44.2% |
| 1988 | 42.1% | 14.3% | 43.6% |
| 1989 | 42.5% | 14.8% | 42.7% |
| 1990 | 45.3% | 14.7% | 40.0% |
| 1991 | 45.0% | 14.7% | 40.3% |
| 1992 | 46.9% | 14.4% | 38.6% |
| 1993 | 47.6% | 14.1% | 38.3% |
| 1994 | 49.1% | 13.9% | 37.0% |
| 1995 | 48.7% | 15.3% | 35.9% |
| 1996 | 50.4% | 15.5% | 34.1% |
| 1997 | 50.6% | 15.2% | 34.2% |
| 1998 | 52.0% | 14.6% | 33.4% |
| 1999 | 52.9% | 13.5% | 33.6% |
| 2000 | 53.2% | 12.5% | 34.4% |
| 2001 | 54.1% | 11.1% | 34.8% |
| 2002 | 55.0% | 8.5% | 36.5% |
| 2003 | 54.7% | 7.1% | 38.2% |
| 2004 | 54.0% | 7.0% | 39.0% |
| 2005 | 53.4% | 7.4% | 39.2% |
| 2006 | 53.2% | 8.5% | 38.3% |
| 2007 | 53.1% | 8.7% | 38.2% |
| 2008 | 53.5% | 8.5% | 38.1% |
| 2009 | 59.5% | 5.3% | 35.2% |
| 2010 | 55.4% | 5.7% | 39.0% |
| 2011 | 56.2% | 6.4% | 37.4% |
| 2012 | 57.6% | 6.2% | 36.2% |
| 2013 | 58.8% | 6.4% | 34.8% |
| 2014 | 59.8% | 6.5% | 33.6% |
| 2015 | 62.2% | 6.0% | 31.7% |
| 2016 | 63.0% | 6.2% | 30.8% |
| 2017 | 63.3% | 6.6% | 30.1% |
| 2018 | 61.4% | 7.9% | 30.7% |
| 2019 | 61.5% | 8.4% | 30.1% |
| 2020 | 69.9% | 5.3% | 24.8% |
| 2021 | 70.8% | 5.2% | 24.0% |
| 2022 | 65.9% | 7.6% | 26.5% |
| 2023 | 61.3% | 10.7% | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 60.2% | 13.0% | 26.8% |
Note: “Discretionary” refers to federal expenditures that are controlled via annual appropriations laws. “Mandatory” refers to expenditures provided for by permanent laws, occurring independently of the appropriations process. “Net interest” refers to interest payments on federal debt securities, less interest received by federal trust funds and other investment income.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of data from the Office of Management and Budget.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of data from the Office of Management and Budget.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
