What are the main categories of U.S. federal government spending?

To answer this question, one can refer to official sources such as the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) or the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which provide information on federal budget and its main categories.

After researching, we can list the main categories of U.S. federal government spending as follows: \(a)\) Social Security: This is a federal program that provides financial support to retired workers, disabled workers, and their dependents. The Social Security program is funded through payroll taxes and is one of the largest expenditure categories for the U.S. government. \(b)\) Healthcare: This includes programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Medicare provides health insurance for individuals aged 65 and older, as well as some younger individuals with disabilities. Medicaid is a joint program between the federal government and state governments that provides healthcare coverage to low-income individuals. CHIP provides healthcare coverage to children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid. \(c)\) Defense: This category includes spending on the military, including salaries, benefits, and operations, as well as spending on veterans' benefits and military research. \(d)\) Income Security: This includes programs that provide financial assistance to individuals who are unemployed, disabled, or underprivileged, such as unemployment insurance, food assistance programs, and housing assistance programs. \(e)\) Interest on national debt: This is the amount of money the U.S. government pays to cover the interest on its outstanding debt. \(f)\) Discretionary Spending: This category comprises all other spending that is not covered in other categories, such as spending on education, infrastructure, and public safety. These are the main categories of U.S. federal government spending. Other smaller categories may exist, but these are the most significant in terms of the dollar amount allocated.