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Not all government spending is the same

Not all government spending is the same
Not all government spending is the same NASA's budget comes from just one part of the federal budget: non-defense discretionary spending. The overwhelming majority of federal spending is mandatory — required by law — and funds programs like Social Security, Medicare, and interest on the national debt. In contrast, discretionary spending (both for defense and non-defense activities) is decided by Congress each year through the annual appropriations process. Casey Dreier / The Planetary Society / Congressional Budget Office