In 2017, Motley Fool reported that the U.S. Government spends about $2.7 trillion for various kinds of social insurance (Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, unemployment compensation, veterans benefits, and the like). Please click here to view their report. In addition, another $604 billion, or 15.3% of total spending, went for national defense; net interest payments on government debt were about $240 billion, or 6.1%. Education aid and related social services were about $114 billion, or less than 3% of all federal spending.
