Where Does the Pie Go? Analyzing Discretionary Spending

Updated December 5, 2024

Authors: Mariam Malik, Senior Foreign Policy Associate (mariam@progressivecaucuscenter.org); Catherine Rowland, Legislative Affairs Director (catherine@progressivecaucuscenter.org)

Every year, Congress passes appropriations bills to fund the government. The appropriations bills fund the discretionary portions of the federal budget, such as education, defense, and housing. Appropriations bills do not include mandatory spending such as Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and Social Security. 

The appropriations process impacts nearly every department and agency across the federal government. On top of that, states and localities often rely on federal funding to carry out projects in their jurisdictions, like public health campaigns or transportation upgrades. The amount of funding Congress appropriates for federal agencies and programs, as well as the conditions on that funding, can have tremendous effects on working families. 

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, Congress spent nearly as much on the Department of Defense (DOD) as on everything else it controls—combined. This includes affordable housing, air and water safety, cancer research, and much more. Importantly, Congress’ DOD discretionary spending does not include other elements of discretionary spending that further militarize our communities, including through the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and more. When accounting for these items, the total military budget is closer to $1 trillion. 

Graphic A and Table A below illustrate the disparities in Congress’ discretionary spending. For more information about the bloated U.S. military budget and its impacts on communities, check out the CPC Center’s Militarism at Home reports: 

• The Bloated Pentagon Budget and the Militarization of Law Enforcement

• The Militarization of Border Communities

• The Pentagon to Police Pipeline

• Militarism at Home: The Excessive Surveillance of Our Communities

Graphic A: FY2024 Discretionary Funding (Enacted), By Appropriations Bill

Source: Appropriations Committees Release 2024 Government Funding Legislation (House Appropriations Committee — Democrats)

Table A: FY2024 Discretionary Funding (Enacted), By Appropriations Bill

Source: Appropriations Committees Release 2024 Government Funding Legislation (House Appropriations Committee — Democrats)