Trimming the Fat

Baloney! Rubbish! No Way, Dude!

Don't believe them. Governments at all levels are loaded with fat, waste, abuse,  overpaid employees, and unnecessary programs. Here is a taste of the literally dozens of spending cut proposals that exist in Congress in one form or another. Some of these are relatively small dollars (only in government is $1 million "small") and others are much bigger. This is not an exhaustive list by any means. I present it only to give you a flavor of what is possible.

The cuts below total $16 billion worth of savings, and this doesn't even include the major reform of the entitlement programs (Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security) where the really really big, long-term dollars are.  

Eliminate “Community Development” Programs:  This proposal would eliminate all programs under the Community Development Fund at an annual savings of $4.45 billion.

Eliminate Essential Air Service (EAS) Program:   This proposal would eliminate spending for the EAS program, at an estimated annual savings of $150 million.

Eliminate the International Trade Administration:  This proposal would eliminate the International Trade Administration at an estimated annual savings of $447 million. 

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Eliminate the Technology Innovation Program (TIP):  This proposal would eliminate the Technology Innovation Program (TIP) at an annual savings of $70 million. 

Eliminate the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program:  This proposal would eliminate the program at an annual savings of $125 million. 

Eliminate Trade and Development Agency:  This proposal would eliminate funding for the Trade and Development Agency at an annual savings of $55 million.

Eliminate the New Starts Transit Program:  This proposal would eliminate the New Starts Transit Program at a savings of $2 billion annually. 

Exchange Programs for Alaska, Natives Native Hawaiians, and Their Historical Trading Partners in Massachusetts:  This proposal would eliminate the program at a savings of $9 million annually. 

Eliminate Intercity and High Speed Rail Grants:  This proposal would eliminate Intercity and High Speed Rail Grants at a savings of $2.5 billion annually. 

Eliminate Amtrak Subsidies:  This proposal would eliminate subsidies to Amtrak at a savings of $1.565 billion annually. 

Eliminate Title X Family Planning:  This proposal would eliminate Title X Family Planning at an annual savings of $318 million. 

Appalachian Regional Commission:  This proposal would eliminate this program, saving taxpayers $76 million annually. 

Eliminate the Economic Development Administration (EDA):  This proposal would eliminate spending for the EDA at an estimated annual savings of $293 million.

Eliminate Subsidy to Corporation for Public Broadcasting:  This proposal would eliminate taxpayer subsidies to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting at an annual savings of $445 million. 

Eliminate National Endowment for Arts (NEA) Subsidy:  This proposal would eliminate this taxpayer subsidy at an annual savings of $167.5 million.

Eliminate National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Subsidy:  This proposal would eliminate this taxpayer subsidy at an annual savings of $167.5 million.

Eliminate Funding for National and Community Service Act:  This proposal would eliminate federal funding for this purpose at an annual savings of $1.15 billion. 

Eliminate the Energy Star Program:  This proposal would eliminate the Energy Star Program at a savings of $52.5 million annually.  

Eliminate International Fund for Ireland:  This proposal would eliminate taxpayer funding for this program at a savings of $17 million annually. 

Eliminate U.S. Agency for International Development:  This option would eliminate the U.S. Agency for International Development, saving taxpayers $1.39 billion annually. 

Eliminate Economic Assistance to Egypt:  This option would eliminate Economic Support Fund aid to Egypt (Foreign Military Financing Program assistance would continue), saving taxpayers $250 million annually.

Eliminate Subsidy for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority:  This proposal calls for eliminating this special subsidy to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority at a savings of $150 million annually.