Historical and projected nondefense discretionary budget authority as a percentage of GDP, FY1976—FY2027
| Year | President’s Budget | CPC budget | Historic | Current Law | Historical Average* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 5.60% | 3.53% | |||
| 1977 | 6.73% | 3.53% | |||
| 1978 | 6.26% | 3.53% | |||
| 1979 | 5.80% | 3.53% | |||
| 1980 | 5.96% | 3.53% | |||
| 1981 | 5.11% | 3.53% | |||
| 1982 | 4.18% | 3.53% | |||
| 1983 | 4.05% | 3.53% | |||
| 1984 | 4.00% | 3.53% | |||
| 1985 | 3.79% | 3.53% | |||
| 1986 | 3.27% | 3.53% | |||
| 1987 | 3.30% | 3.53% | |||
| 1988 | 3.12% | 3.53% | |||
| 1989 | 3.07% | 3.53% | |||
| 1990 | 3.26% | 3.53% | |||
| 1991 | 3.50% | 3.53% | |||
| 1992 | 3.61% | 3.53% | |||
| 1993 | 3.64% | 3.53% | |||
| 1994 | 3.48% | 3.53% | |||
| 1995 | 3.14% | 3.53% | |||
| 1996 | 2.96% | 3.53% | |||
| 1997 | 2.89% | 3.53% | |||
| 1998 | 2.87% | 3.53% | |||
| 1999 | 3.09% | 3.53% | |||
| 2000 | 2.79% | 3.53% | |||
| 2001 | 3.14% | 3.53% | |||
| 2002 | 3.44% | 3.53% | |||
| 2003 | 3.48% | 3.53% | |||
| 2004 | 3.50% | 3.53% | |||
| 2005 | 3.78% | 3.53% | |||
| 2006 | 3.22% | 3.53% | |||
| 2007 | 3.14% | 3.53% | |||
| 2008 | 3.35% | 3.53% | |||
| 2009 | 5.53% | 3.53% | |||
| 2010 | 3.72% | 3.53% | |||
| 2011 | 3.32% | 3.53% | |||
| 2012 | 3.29% | 3.53% | |||
| 2013 | 3.27% | 3.53% | |||
| 2014 | 3.07% | 3.53% | |||
| 2015 | 2.98% | 3.53% | |||
| 2016 | 3.05% | 3.05% | 3.05% | 3.05% | 3.53% |
| 2017 | 2.80% | 2.88% | 2.88% | 3.53% | |
| 2018 | 2.40% | 3.14% | 2.75% | 3.53% | |
| 2019 | 2.25% | 3.25% | 2.71% | 3.53% | |
| 2020 | 2.10% | 3.34% | 2.69% | 3.53% | |
| 2021 | 1.93% | 3.45% | 2.65% | 3.53% | |
| 2022 | 1.82% | 3.53% | 2.62% | 3.53% | |
| 2023 | 1.71% | 3.53% | 2.58% | 3.53% | |
| 2024 | 1.61% | 3.53% | 2.54% | 3.53% | |
| 2025 | 1.52% | 3.53% | 2.51% | 3.53% | |
| 2026 | 1.43% | 3.53% | 2.47% | 3.53% | |
| 2027 | 1.35% | 3.53% | 2.44% | 3.53% |
*Historical average reflects the average nondefense discretionary budget authority as a share of GDP between FY1980 and FY2007 (the last year before the onset of the Great Recession).
Notes: For the president's budget, this figure uses CBO's projections of GDP. Data for 2016 represent actual spending. Data for 2017 exclude CHIMPs.
Source: EPI Policy Center analysis of Congressional Budget Office and Office of Management and Budget data.