Entitlement Programs

On Topic

According to projections from the Congressional Budget Office, the federal entitlement programs—Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare— represent nearly 45% of federal spending and cost as much as 10% of the GDP, which, if unchanged, will grow to 16% by 2035. As Congress looks for ways to decrease the budget deficit, it is likely that these programs will face reforms and benefit cuts. Brookings experts discuss what cuts may look like, and examine the role these programs play in the growing budget deficit.

U.S. President Barack Obama walks from the podium with acting Director of Office Management and Budget Jeff Zients, following remarks on the budget in the Rose Garden of the White Hose in Washington (REUTERS/Jason Reed).

Opinion

On the Budget, Obama's Opening Bid Was Reasonable

April 16, 2013, Ron Haskins

Ron Haskins explains the philosophical differences that make crafting a bipartisan budget deal so difficult and discusses why President Obama's recently proposed budget represents a reasonable opening bid for reaching a grand bargain on the budget deficit.