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Heritage Foundation

Medicare and Other Entitlements Are Crowding Out Spending on Defense

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Ever-increasing entitlement spending is putting pressure on key spending priorities, such as national defense, a core constitutional function of government. Defense spending has declined significantly over time, even when the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are included, as spending on the three major entitlements—Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid—has more than tripled.

PERCENTAGE OF GDP

Medicare and Other Entitlements Are Crowding Out Spending on Defense

Source: Office of Management and Budget.