English: U.S. Defense Spending as a % of Total Outlays

Understanding the numbers

The bars in this diagram reflect budgeted amounts, which exclude spending for the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan (about $750 billion from 2001-2008), which were funded via supplemental appropriations. Further, it appears that homeland security spending is not entirely included in the budgeted amounts described as defense spending per the budget historical tables; these amounts are spread in other "buckets." Using a different source (GAO data, which is on the accrual basis rather than cash basis) for FY 2008, roughly $800 billion was spent for the Department of Defense, Iraq & Afghanistan wars, and Homeland Security. This gives a higher ratio, as follows:

• 800/2,979 outlays = 27%.
• 800/2,524 receipts = 32%.

The GAO number for Veteran's Affairs for 2008 was over $400 billion, versus $50 billion in 2007, which includes an estimate for future costs. Adding this number would not be a meaningful comparison versus prior years, but would indicate we will likely be spending over a $1 trillion for each of the next few years without major reforms.