A department-by-department guide to cutting the government's budget.
The Department of Defense oversees a vast array of people and assets at home and abroad, but we could improve security and reduce costs with a more restrained military strategy.
The department will spend about $668 billion in fiscal 2012, or $5,800 for every U.S. household.
The Department of Agriculture administers large farm subsidy programs and runs the food stamp and school lunch programs.
The department will spend about $151 billion in 2012, or about $1,200 for every U.S. household. It employs 93,000 workers and operates more than 240 subsidy programs.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development funds public housing, provides rental vouchers, and subsidizes homeownership.
The department will spend $57 billion in 2012, or about $480 for every U.S. household. It employs 9,400 workers and operates 122 subsidy programs.
From the Downsizing Blog
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The Realities of Government Infrastructure
