As the national debt soars to more than $35 trillion, government funding as a share of U.S. revenue will continue to decline as both presidential candidates vow not to address the most important drivers of this increase. It's getting bigger.

In 1970, approximately 8.2% of personal income in the United States came from government assistance, but that number will more than double to 17.6% in 2022, according to a new study conducted by the Economic Innovation Group (EIG). %. EIG defined government assistance as payments from programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, unemployment insurance, veterans benefits, Pell grants, food assistance, and COVID-19 payments, as well as tax credits.

Government transfer dependence is concentrated in certain regions of the country, many of which overlap with key battleground states that will determine the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. Approximately 70% of counties in Michigan, Georgia, and North Carolina rely heavily on government spending. (Related: Biden-Harris administration plans to oversee $1 trillion in improper payments, watchdog group finds)

EIG defined a county as highly dependent on government wealth transfers if safety nets and social programs account for 25% or more of personal income. About 53% of U.S. counties will fit this definition in 2022, up from just about 10% in 2000 and about 1% in 1970.

In Arizona, 86% of counties rely on the federal government for a significant portion of their income, on par with 60% of counties in Pennsylvania and 70% of counties in Michigan. Approximately one-third of the population across Arizona, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina lives in counties that rely heavily on federal programs for income.

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have been hesitant to announce cuts to wealth transfer programs, even though the federal deficit for fiscal year 2024 is estimated at $1.9 trillion. Ms. Harris has promised to extend Obamacare subsidies, while Mr. Trump has promised to eliminate the Social Security tax. According to In the Wall Street Journal.

Neither major candidate promises to reign in Social Security. social security board project The program's trust fund is scheduled to go bankrupt in 2033.

President Trump has promised to “not order a single penny” of cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Meanwhile, Harris promised to “protect” and “strengthen” Social Security, but did not provide many details of the plan, News Nation reported. reported.

Social Security increases can be partially attributed to America's growing elderly population. According to EIG, in 1970, only 9.8% of Americans were 65 or older; by 2022, 17.3% of Americans will be elderly.

Healthcare costs are steadily rising in the United States and will reach $4.5 trillion by 2022. According to to the American Medical Association. According to EIG, total government spending on Medicare and Medicaid is growing three times faster than Social Security spending, with Medicare spending an average of $16,000 per year per American over 65.

EIG research shows that recessions are also a major factor in increased government dependence, as government aid income Americans receive has skyrocketed in every recession since the 1970s and has remained persistently high ever since. .

The Trump and Harris campaigns did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.

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