A department-by-department guide to cutting the government's budget.
The Department of Agriculture administers large farm subsidy programs and runs the food stamp and school lunch programs.
The department will spend about $152 billion in 2011, or about $1,200 for every U.S. household. It employs 98,000 workers and operates more than 235 subsidy programs.
The Department of Energy oversees nuclear weapons sites, runs electric utilities, and subsidizes conventional and alternative fuels.
The department will spend $45 billion in 2011, or about $380 for every U.S. household. It employs 17,000 workers directly and oversees about 100,000 contract workers.
The Department of the Interior oversees more than 500 million acres of land, distributes subsidized irrigation water, and administers aid programs for American Indians.
The department spent $21 billion in 2011, or about $180 for every U.S. household. It employs 70,000 workers.
Obama's Proposed Cuts and the Scope of Government
The president’s fiscal 2013 budget includes a 213 page document that contains 210 proposed cuts, consolidations, and other savings. That sounds like a lot until one finds out that the alleged savings would only amount to $24 billion in a $3.8 trillion budget. Not only would the cuts do little to reduce the size of government, they would do nothing to reign in the scope of government. Read more
Reporters Should Think Big on Budget Reforms
The Washington Post did a great job last week comparing spending earmarks by members of Congress with the locations of property they own in their states. Some members are apparently using our tax dollars to expand infrastructure near their homes and businesses, thus gaining a personal benefit from federal spending. Read more
Obama’s Budget: This Isn’t Built to Last
In his recent State of the Union address, President Obama said that he wanted an American economy that is “built to last.” Today’s release of his fiscal 2013 budget proposal shows that the president still thinks he can build economic prosperity with more spending, taxes, and debt. Those are the building materials for an economic time-bomb that will explode on future generations. Read more
