How Federal Taxes Were Spent in 2010

Percentage	Destination
36%	Social Security, Medicare and Other Retirement Income support for retired and disabled persons Medical care for the elderly
24%	National Defense, Veterans and Foreign Affairs Equip, modernize and pay our armed forces Fund national defense activities Veterans benefits and services Military and economic assistance to foreign countries Maintenance of our embassies abroad
25%	Social Programs Medicaid Food stamps Health programs Unemployment compensation Assisted housing and social programs
7%	Physical, Human and Community Development Agricultural programs Natural resources and environment programs Transportation programs Aid for elementary and secondary education Direct assistance to college students Space, energy and general science programs
6%	Net interest on the debt Interest payments on the national debt
2%	Law Enforcement and General Government Federal law enforcement Prisons General costs of the federal government Collection of taxes and legislative activities

Source: IRS 1040 Instructions, Tax Year 2011 (pdf)

Note: Includes social security, Medicare, unemployment, retirement, corporate and personal income taxes and money borrowed to cover the deficit.

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