Social Security Spending Expansion Over the past several decades, social welfare programs have constituted a substantial portion of the U.S. federal budget. Social Security is the largest social security program in the United States. In 2013, total Social Security spending was $1.3 trillion, 8.4% of the $16.3 trillion GNP (SSA.gov). There has been a question in the White House of whether to oppose cutting Social Security spending or support increased payments. Expanding Social Security instead of shrinking it would benefit seniors, especially given America's struggling middle class and the fact that there are more poor people than ever. Despite the retirement income crisis, Social Security should be expanded, not reduced. In Arthur Delaney's Huffington Post article, Senator Bernie Sanders said, "With the middle class struggling and more people living in poverty than ever before, we cannot afford to make life even more difficult for the elderly". A push towards adopting the CPI-E, rather than moving to a “chain-linked” consumer price index that cuts benefits for retirees, would be preferable....