Chart Pack: Defense Spending
Last Updated September 27, 2024
Defense is the largest component of discretionary spending and it is projected to continue rising over the next decade.
America’s fiscal, economic, and national security are closely linked. Defense spending helps ensure our national security as well as our leading role in the world. At the same time, America’s unsustainable national debt threatens our global standing and economic strength. It’s critical that we meet our defense challenges while balancing those requirements with a more sustainable fiscal outlook.
Below is a selection of key charts on defense spending in the United States.
Attribution Policy: If you would like to use any of these charts, please credit the "Peter G. Peterson Foundation" and provide the pgpf.org website URL and hyperlink. If you would like to include one of our charts in a commercial product, please email copyright@pgpf.org.
Further Reading
Infographic: The Facts About U.S. Defense Spending
National security is both a vital priority and a significant part of the federal budget.
Budget Basics: National Defense
The national defense budget funds a wide range of activities and represents a significant share of overall federal spending.
Spending on Veterans in the Budget
This piece examines spending on veterans within the budget and outlines the factors that have pushed it higher in recent years.