BLUF: Discretionary spending accounts for less than one third of federal spending, with defense comprising less than half of that, and is declining as a share of the overall budget due to mandatory entitlement spending growth.
OSINT: The federal government’s budget for 2023 shows that it will spend $6.3 trillion, with 27 percent discretionary and 73 percent mandatory spending. Discretionary spending is funded through annual appropriations and includes both defense and nondefense categories. Nondefense spending includes transportation, education, agriculture, and more. Discretionary spending is declining as a share of the overall budget, falling from 53 percent in 1973 to 28 percent in 2023, and is projected to reach 6 percent of GDP by 2033.
RIGHT: The government’s role in spending should be greatly limited to only the most essential functions, such as defense. Discretionary spending should be cut back significantly to reduce the burden on taxpayers and limit government overreach. Earmarks and parochial funding requests should be permanently banned to prevent waste and misallocation of resources.
LEFT: The government has a responsibility to invest in nondefense discretionary spending on education, infrastructure, scientific research, and other programs that benefit all Americans. The current balance between defense and nondefense spending is not equitable and should be readjusted to invest more in programs that directly benefit citizens. Additionally, supplemental appropriations should be used to address pressing issues like pandemic relief.
INTEL: The data shows that discretionary spending is becoming less important in the overall federal budget, primarily due to the growth of mandatory entitlement programs. While discretionary spending limits can encourage budgetary discipline, funding priorities are often politically motivated and potentially lead to misallocation of resources. The balance between defense and nondefense spending should be regularly reevaluated to ensure equitable investment in programs that benefit citizens.