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.
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.