A department-by-department guide to cutting the federal government's budget.

The Department of Commerce subsidizes businesses, restricts foreign trade, and oversees the Census Bureau and Patent Office.

The department will spend $11.8 billion in 2009, or about $101 for every U.S. household. It employs 53,000 workers and oversees more than 3,900 pages of regulations.

The Department of Agriculture administers large farm subsidy programs and runs the food stamp and school lunch programs.

The department will spend $116 billion in 2009, or about $991 for every U.S. household. It employs 96,000 workers and runs 198 different subsidy programs.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development funds public housing, provides rental vouchers, and subsidizes homeownership.

The department will spend $65 billion in 2009, or about $555 for every U.S. household. It employs 9,500 workers and oversees more than 3,600 pages of regulations.

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Total Federal Spending

Shares of Total Federal Spending, 2009

Federal Spending as a Share of Gross Domestic Product

Government Spending as a Share of Gross Domestic Product

Federal Spending under Business-as-Usual Policies, Percent of Gross Domestic Product

Video: Downsize the Department of Agriculture

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