A sweeping expansion of social programs since 2000 has 
    sparked a record increase in the number of Americans 
    receiving federal government benefits such as college 
    aid, food stamps and health care. 

    A USA TODAY analysis of 25 major government programs 
    found that enrollment increased an average of 17% in the 
    programs from 2000 to 2005. The nation's population grew 
    5% during that time. 

    It was the largest five-year expansion of the federal 
    safety net since the Great Society created programs such 
    as Medicare and Medicaid in the 1960s.