National security is both a vital priority and a significant part of the federal budget. Consequently, negotiating levels of defense spending is often one of the more contentious parts of the budget process. To help put those debates in perspective, the infographic below provides an overview of U.S. defense spending and its place in the overall budget.
The good news is that there are ways of ensuring America’s security while strengthening our fiscal and economic outlook. Read more about the policy options.

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Further Reading
Budget Basics: Federal Trust Funds
Federal trust funds bear little resemblance to their private-sector counterparts.
10 Largest Budget Functions
Here are the top ten spending categories for the federal budget.
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Public schools for students in kindergarten through 12th grade are financed through a combination of local, state, and federal dollars in proportions that vary across and within states.