what does the us government spend the most money on
United States federal budget During FY2016, the federal government spent $3.85 trillion on a budget or cash basis, up $164 billion or 4% vs. FY2015 spending of $3.69 trillion. Major categories of FY 2016 spending included: Healthcare such as Medicare and Medicaid ($1,060B or 28% of spending), Social Security ($910B or 24%), non-defense discretionary spending used to run federal Departments and Agencies ($600B or 16%), Defense Department ($585B or 15%), and interest ($240B or 6%).[1]
Economy of the United States The economy of the United States is a highly developed mixed economy.[27][28] It is the world's largest economy by nominal GDP and the second-largest by purchasing power parity (PPP).[29] It has the world's seventh-highest per capita GDP (nominal) and eleventh-highest per capita GDP (PPP) in 2016.[30][31] The U.S. dollar is the currency most used in international transactions and is the world's foremost reserve currency, backed by its science and technology, its military, the full faith of the U.S. government to reimburse its debts, its central role in a range of international institutions since World War II and the petrodollar system.[32][33] Several countries use it as their official currency, and in many others it is the de facto currency.[34][35] Its largest trading partners are China, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Germany, South Korea, United Kingdom, France, India and Taiwan.[36]