Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid were responsible for consuming more than 50 percent of all federal spending in 2004 -- or about $1 trillion -- according to the Consolidated Federal Funds Report.
The paper, released annually by the Census Bureau, said that troika would account for even a larger portion of federal spending over the next several years.
Federal spending overall hit roughly $2.2 trillion, an increase of 5 percent from the 2003 figures.
The CFF report encompasses all federal spending with the exception of foreign aid and interest payments on the national debt.
