In Brief

Domestic discretionary spending, which excludes the defense budget, entitlements and debt interest payments, amounts to 15% of the total federal budget spending. Although discretionary spending was cut in the Budget Control Act of 2011, it is likely that more cuts will follow, as the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction works to reduce the deficit. Brookings experts examine which departments within the federal government are likely to face reductions, and what impact these reductions may have on the country as a whole.