Discretionary Spending

Extracted Attributes

• Nature

  Optional government spending

• Contrast

  Mandatory spending (determined by eligibility criteria, nearly two-thirds of federal spending)

• Mechanism

  Implemented through an appropriations bill

• Commonly Funded Areas

  National defense, foreign aid, education, transportation, veterans' benefits, income security, health, administration of justice, international affairs

• Determining Authority

  U.S. Congress and President annually

• 2016 US Federal Spending (Total Discretionary)

  $1.2 trillion

• 2016 US Federal Spending (National Defense Portion)

  $584 billion

Timeline

• U.S. federal government spent $1.2 trillion on discretionary spending, with nearly half ($584 billion) allocated to national defense. (Source: Web Search Results)

  2016

• The All-In Podcast hosts discussed the distinction between mandatory and discretionary spending, challenging pessimistic CBO models and emphasizing the role of robust GDP growth and pro-investment energy policies for fiscal health. (Source: Related Document)

  Undated

Discretionary spending

In American public finance, discretionary spending is government spending implemented through an appropriations bill. This spending is an optional part of fiscal policy, in contrast to social programs for which funding is mandatory and determined by the number of eligible recipients. Some examples of areas funded by discretionary spending are national defense, foreign aid, education and transportation.

Web Search Results

• Discretionary spending - Wikipedia

  In the United States, discretionary spending refers to optional spending set by appropriation levels each year, at the discretion of Congress. During the budget process, Congress issues a budget resolution which includes levels of discretionary spending, deficit projections, and instructions for changing entitlement programs and tax policy. After setting discretionary spending levels, both the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee divide the agreed-upon amount of [...] In American public finance, discretionary spending is government spending implemented through an appropriations bill "Appropriations bill (United States)"). This spending is an optional part of fiscal policy, in contrast to social programs for which funding is mandatory and determined by the number of eligible recipients. Some examples of areas funded by discretionary spending are national defense, foreign aid, education and transportation. ## United States discretionary spending [...] In 2016, the U.S. federal government spent $1.2 trillion on U.S. discretionary spending. Of this $1.2 trillion, nearly half ($584 billion) was spent on national defense. The rest of U.S. discretionary spending was allocated for education, training, employment, and social services ($92 billion), as well as transportation ($91 billion), veterans' benefits and services ($68 billion), income security ($66 billion), health ($57 billion), administration of justice ($53 billion), international affairs

• Discretionary vs. Mandatory Spending: What Are They? - Equifax

  Discretionary spending, on the other hand, refers to nonessential costs that are not required to keep your household or business running. For individuals, discretionary expenses may include dining out, entertainment (such as concerts, movies and streaming services), gym memberships, leisure travel, gifts and charitable donations. For businesses, common discretionary expenses include marketing, research and development, office improvements and employee perks. [...] Discretionary expenses, however, are the things you can do without. You'll focus on your discretionary spending to pare down your budget, save money and avoid a financial crisis. When your personal or business income shrinks, so should your discretionary spending. Your mandatory spending, on the other hand, will likely remain steady. [...] Discretionary government spending, on the other hand, is determined each year through congressional appropriations — the process by which the U.S. Congress negotiates how funds are spent based on current economic, political and other factors. For example, during wartime, Congress might allocate more money toward defense spending, while they might allocate more funds toward the Centers for Disease Control during a health crisis. Defense spending is discretionary, as is government spending for

• Federal Spending | U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data

  Discretionary spending is money formally approved by Congress and the President during the appropriations process each year. Generally, Congress allocates over half of the discretionary budget towards national defense and the rest to fund the administration of other agencies and programs. These programs range from transportation, education, housing, and social service programs, as well as science and environmental organizations. [...] Government spending is broken down into two primary categories: mandatory and discretionary. Mandatory spending represents nearly two-thirds of annual federal spending. This type of spending does not require an annual vote by Congress. The second major category is discretionary spending. The difference between mandatory and discretionary spending relates to whether spending is dictated by prior law or voted on in the annual appropriations process. Another type of appropriation spending is

• What Is Discretionary Spending? - Experian

  ###### Money advice ###### Credit Card advice ###### Loan advice Compare, switch and save ###### Auto Insurance Advice # What Is Discretionary Spending? Marianne Hayes profile image In this article Light bulb icon. ## Quick Answer Discretionary spending is using money for nonessential expenses like dining out, shopping, entertainment and subscription services. Happy woman with her phone, credit card and bag after shopping in the city. [...] Some bills, like your housing payment, come around every month and are an essential part of life. Discretionary spending is more flexible. These are purchases for things that are wants, not needs. Understanding the difference between necessary and discretionary expenses can help you manage your money more effectively. ## What Are Discretionary Expenses? [...] Discretionary expenses aren't essential, but they probably make your life more enjoyable. These purchases include everything from simple creature comforts to more expensive splurges. The amount you spend in this category may vary from month to month. Here are some common discretionary expenses:

• What is discretionary spending? - Yahoo Finance

  Discretionary spending includes purchases beyond your essential — or “non-discretionary” — expenses that you need to pay for every month, because if you don’t, there will be personal or financial consequences. Examples include housing, utilities, internet and cell phone bills, insurance, transportation costs, healthcare, clothing, groceries, minimum debt payments, and childcare. [...] In other words, discretionary purchases are those fun purchases that aren’t necessary for living, but add value to your life in other ways. For example, groceries are an essential expense. After all, you need to eat. But paying for a nice meal out would qualify as discretionary spending. Because while you need to eat, you don’t need to eat a marked-up meal at a fancy restaurant. However, a nice meal out may bring you joy, spurring you to splurge every once in a while. [...] Discretionary expenses range from major expenses to tiny purchases, and they include tangible and intangible goods as well as experiences. Below are some examples of common discretionary expenses you may include in your budget: Dining out: Restaurants, take-out, delivery Entertainment: Concerts, sporting events, movies, museums, theater Grooming and beauty: Haircuts, beauty products, salon visits Household goods: Decor, furniture, electronics, kitchenware