The US Defense budget is 700 billion a year. That is more than the next 17 largest spenders. Nearly 2/3rds of the expenditures each year are on autopilot—they would happen if the president and congress did nothing. Currently 1 of every 4 dollars spent by the govt goes to health care—primarily Medicaid and Medicare. Nearly all of the growth in spending in the next 10 years will be in health care and interest on debt.