text: We are spending 20% of our federal budget on defense. 22% if you include VA. We have not spent 55% on defense since 1960 or so. With no changes to current spending projections it will be about 11-12% by 2024- Congressional Budget office. I know folks on the left like to believe you don't count Medicare/Medicaid and Social security as part of federal spending- but as it turns out they are the number 1 and 2 budget items totaling 52% in 2015 and are rapidly growing. One can argue that the 20% for defense is still too much- but one should argue from a factual basis.