Here are two charts with somewhat more detail on some of the components of federal outlays.
Here outlays are expressed in terms of their percentage of the total rather than as a percentage of GDP as in the previous page. The top chart groups larger outlays, for the most part, while the bottom one uses an expanded scale to permit a closer look at some smaller ones.
On the bottom chart I've used a red line for international affairs. This includes the operation of the State Department, as well as foreign assistance. Decades ago the total exceeded 5% of all government spending, but in recent years it has barely exceeded 1%. Much of what remains of foreign assistance is either widely supported (like aid to Israel) or is an essential part of U.S. policy (like aid to nations that are essential to our ability to get supplies and forces to Afghanistan). Thus it is virtually impossible to save very much by further cutting foreign assistance, notwithstanding widespread public opinion to the contrary.
15 Nov 2010