Congress spends $7 trillion. Here’s how that math works out if you think of just $100
An opinion piece in Fox News reframes the US federal budget by scaling 2025's roughly $7 trillion in spending down to a $100 bill, aiming to make the scale of government spending and borrowing more relatable to ordinary Americans. The author argues that the exercise exposes an unsustainable pattern: the government borrowed heavily to cover the gap between what it collected and what it spent, with a growing share of that spending going purely towards servicing existing debt rather than public services.
Of every $100 in federal spending in fiscal year 2025, about $23 went to Social Security, $26 to major health programmes such as Medicare and Medicaid, $13 to defence, and $14 to interest on the national debt, with the remainder covering veterans' benefits, education, transport and other programmes. Total spending reached roughly $7 trillion against revenues of about $5.2 trillion, leaving a deficit of around $1.8 trillion, meaning the government borrowed about $26 for every $100 it spent. The article notes that net interest costs, already around $970 billion, are projected by the Congressional Budget Office to exceed $1 trillion in 2026, and calls for an annual "receipt" showing taxpayers exactly how their money is spent and borrowed.
In short
- US spent ~$7 trillion in FY2025 against $5.2 trillion revenue
- Roughly $14 of every $100 spent went on debt interest
- CBO projects interest costs will top $1 trillion in 2026
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The $100 framing makes a large, abstract budget easier for taxpayers to understand and highlights that persistent deficits add to debt, while rising interest costs leave less room for other priorities. A yearly receipt could improve transparency and help voters judge whether spending and borrowing reflect their priorities.
The case against
A simplified breakdown can make complex fiscal choices look more straightforward than they are: programmes serve different purposes, and borrowing may be justified for urgent needs or long-term investment. A receipt could inform the debate, but it does not by itself show whether spending is effective or what trade-offs would follow from reducing deficits.
Explained simply
The US federal government funds its work through taxes and other revenue, then borrows when it spends more than it takes in. The difference in a single year is called the deficit; borrowing adds to the national debt, which the government must repay with interest.
Social Security provides retirement and other benefits, while Medicare and Medicaid help pay for healthcare for older people and some lower-income groups. Defence, veterans’ benefits, education, transport and other services also make up federal spending, alongside interest owed on past borrowing.
The Congressional Budget Office is a non-partisan body that estimates federal spending, revenues and borrowing. Interest payments matter because they meet the cost of existing debt, leaving less of the budget available for other purposes.
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