Spending Category Definitions

Here's what's included in the top-line categories of government spending. You can also drill down here to look at examples.

• Pensions:  Social Security and government pensions.
  
  
• Health Care: Medicare and Medicaid, public health, medical research.
  
  
• Education: Education, K-12 thru university.
  
  
• Defense: Pentagon, veterans, State Department, foreign aid.
  
  
• Welfare: Cash welfare, food stamps, unemployment benefits, workers comp, housing (but not Medicaid).
  
  
• Protection: Police, fire, courts, prisons.
  
  
• Transportation: Highways and mass transit.
  
  
• General Government: executive, legislative, finance, general services.
  
  
• Other Spending: Research, economic development, agriculture, energy, environment.