Countdown to Release of President Obama's Budget: 7 Days Remaining
Will the President’s budget restrain the growth in mandatory spending?
The primary cause of our upcoming debt explosion is spending on mandatory programs – such as Social Security, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act – and interest on the national debt. Unlike discretionary programs, mandatory programs are not subject to annual appropriations, and this status allows them to grow “on autopilot.” By 2026, mandatory and interest spending will consume 99 percent of all revenues, crowding out important discretionary priorities, such as national defense and medical research.
