Budget Basics: Federal Trust Funds
Federal trust funds bear little resemblance to their private-sector counterparts.
Read MoreThree Key Things to Know about CHIP
The Children’s Health Insurance Program is a key piece of the social safety net. Let’s take a look at what CHIP is, how it is financed, and who benefits from it.
Read MoreSpending on Veterans in the Budget
Federal spending for veterans has increased relatively sharply in the past two decades as scores of veterans returned home from extended wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Read MoreHow Much Does the Federal Government Spend on Housing Support?
Funding for housing represents a relatively small part of the annual budget and serves some of the most economically vulnerable Americans.
Read MoreThe Federal Government Has Borrowed Trillions. Who Owns All that Debt?
Most federal debt is owed to domestic holders, but foreign ownership is much higher now than it was about 50 years ago.
Read MoreThe Current Ratio of Workers to Social Security Beneficiaries Is at an All-Time Low and Projected to Decline Further
Social Security has been a cornerstone of economic security for more than 90 years, but the program is on unsound footing.
Read MoreInfographic: The Facts About U.S. Defense Spending
National security is both a vital priority and a significant part of the federal budget.
Read MoreThe National Debt Can Crowd Out Investments in the Economy — Here’s How
Large amounts of federal debt could “crowd out” investments by the private sector, making the economy less productive and stunting wage growth.
Read MorePayroll Taxes: What Are They and What Do They Fund?
Payroll taxes fund social insurance programs including Social Security and Medicare and are the second-largest source of revenues for the federal government.
Read MoreDebt vs. Deficits: What’s the Difference?
The words debt and deficit come up frequently in debates about policy decisions. The two concepts are similar, but are often confused.
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