The Department of the Interior oversees more than 500 million acres of land through the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and the Fish and Wildlife Service. The department also houses the Bureau of Reclamation, which distributes subsidized irrigation water, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which administers programs for American Indians.
Interior will spend $19 billion in fiscal 2012, but it will collect $8 billion in revenues, which will leave net spending of $11 billion. The department employs about 70,000 workers in 2,400 offices across the nation.
Spending Cuts Summary
- Here are proposed spending cuts to save taxpayers $8 billion annually.
Downsize This!
- Cutting the Bureau of Reclamation. The bureau operates dams and other water infrastructure in the western states. Its large subsidies for irrigation water combined with restrictions on water transfers are contributing to a growing water crisis in many areas.
- Reforming Federal Land Management. The federal government owns a vast amount of land that would be better managed if privatized, given to state governments, or transferred to stand-alone trust organizations.
- Indian Lands and Indian Subsidies. The Bureau of Indian Affairs has a long and troubled history with American Indians, and it has been one of the most scandal-prone federal agencies. The path to prosperity for Indians on reservations is through greater independence and improved governance, and not through federal subsidies and top-down regulations.
Timeline of Government Growth
- See this timeline for key events in the department’s growth.
Further Reading
- Here are background studies that examine the department’s activities.
Cato Experts
- Chris Edwards, Director, Tax Policy Studies
- Steve Hanke, Senior Fellow
- Randal O’Toole, Senior Fellow
- Peter Van Doren, Senior Fellow