What is the largest category of local government spending?

Answer 1

spending on the defense is about half of the federal government's discretionary spending. the Department of Defense spends most of their budget. it pays for the navy, army, air force, and marines and also don't forget about the departments civilians

Answer 2

Education and social services are the largest categories of local government spending (counting counties, cities, towns, villages, etc). In 2007, local governments in the U.S. spent $608 billion on social services (the majority going to public welfare), and $611 billion on education (the majority going to elementary/secondary education).

Answer 3

Medicare and Medicaid at $835 Billion, 24% of federal spending