Mandatory Spending Increased 759 Percent

Mandatory spending, which includes Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid spending that is not subject to annual review or budget debate, grew (in inflation-adjusted dollars) from $169 billion in 1965 to $1.45 trillion in 2007 — 58.2 percent of the budget.

Total Mandatory Spending, Excluding Net Interest, 1965–2007, in Billions

Source: Outlays from FY 2009 Historical Tables, Budget of the United States Government, Table 8.1.