Federal Budget Breakdown 2011

by David@MoneyNing.com · 10 comments


The new federal budget for 2011 is now released, and with the proposed deficit of $1.267 trillion dollars, seeing the actual breakdown was actually pretty eye opening.

It’s interesting that we talk about health care reform, TARP and other bailout programs all the time when all these initiatives are going to make up less than 2% of our overall spending next year. On the other hand, Social Security (19%), Medicare (13%), Medicaid (8%) and Net Interest (7%) will make up almost half (47%) of our 2011 budget.

If we can just make everything more efficient…

Here’s the rest of the breakdown:

  • Discretionary Security – 23%
  • Discretionary Non-Security – 14%
  • Social Security – 19%
  • Medicare – 13%
  • Medicaid – 8%
  • TARP – 0%
  • Job Initiatives – 1%
  • Health Reform – 0%
  • Other Mandatory Programs – 16%
  • Net Interest – 7%

Data taken from the full budget proposal.

Shouldn’t we just concentrate on cutting the fat of the major programs to lower our deficit? It’s much easier than spending time arguing over expenses that is negligible right?

Aside: Here’s a video that better explains what I mean when expenses are negligible…

I know this sounds way too simplistic, but shouldn’t we sometimes just keep it simple? If corporations can cut their cost every single year, perhaps the government can at least be half as efficient.

What do you think?

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{ read the comments below or add one }

  • guidoLaMoto says:

    100 million is 2.2% of 3.5trillion. 2.2% of 8800 pennies is 193 pennies. Did I miss something in the video?

    The fed payroll is roughly $200 billion/yr. If we reduce those wages & benefits to a level on par with workers in the private sector, we would save well over $100 billion/yr.

    • Shiler's list says:

      If the private sector would keep up with the government and paid their workers what government was paid, their would be extra revenue in the form of taxes to add another 100B.

      At Least.

      How interesting that I am sure you want American labor to stoop to Chinese wage levels too. Then we can ‘save’ all kinds of money, yes? Private labor stoops to China, gubment stoops to private and by extension, China. Congratulations! We are now (most of us) China!

    • tmayer79 says:

      @guidoLaMoto
      100 Million of 3.5 Trillion is 0.0029%. In this demonstration 5 pennies = $2 Billion, therefore 1 penny = $400 Million, therefore Yes 1/4 penny = $100 Millon.

      In other terms 8,800 pennies x 0.0029% = 0.25 pennies

  • thomas trapane says:

    stop sending money to foreign countries that hate us, collect money from the oil countries that we saved with our military. Collect all debts and unpaid collections from government suppliers

  • MXD says:

    Nicely done.. Amazing how many voters are simply not educated enough to know when they’re being had. And how insulting this type of thing is to us EDUCATED types.

  • TOM PARISELLA says:

    WHY DO WE NOT DISCUSS THE BUDGET BEFORE THE CONGRESS AND THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA WE A LITTLE MORE BREAKDOWN OF THE 1.267 TRILLION DOLLAR BUDGET AND LET S SEE WHERE OUR CONSTITUENTS HANG THEIR HAT IN REGARDS TO THIS BUDGET

  • Clinton Timmons says:

    I like your creativity and attempt to put things in perspective. If they cancelled a few simple items such as(WH Easter Egg hunt, bottled water for the congress, some congressional “fact finding” trips) the money saved would start to add up. The idea that all of the money needs to come from one program only creates resentment.

    • jmw says:

      And how about we make the Obamas pay for their own vacations? Its a little insensitive to spend $500,000 of taxpayers’ money for Mrs. Obama to take a trip!

  • LeanLifeCoach says:

    Thank for the video…. that puts it in perspective.

    Nice job.

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