Trends in Mandatory Spending: In Brief.

The article focuses on trends in federal spending in broad categories such as discretionary spending, mandatory spending, and net interest. It mentions entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid make up the bulk of mandatory spending. It also mentions mandatory spending funds various income support programs, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI), unemployment insurance, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and some veterans' benefits.