Glossary term
Mandatory spending
Federal spending that flows from permanent law rather than annual appropriations.
Mandatory spending — sometimes called direct spending — is governed by eligibility rules written into standing law. If a person qualifies for a benefit, the payment is made; the total is whatever the rules produce, not a figure Congress sets each year.
Changing it therefore requires changing the underlying law, not adjusting an appropriation. That is why mandatory programs are usually addressed through reconciliation rather than through the appropriations bills.
Where you will see it
Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and interest on the debt are the largest components. None of them require an annual vote to continue.
Related terms
Used in these explainers