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

The Department of Transportation subsidizes and regulates highways, airports, air traffic control, urban transit, and passenger rail.

The department will spend $91 billion in 2010, or about $770 for every U.S. household. It employs 58,000 workers and operates 85 different subsidy programs.

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

The department will spend about $142 billion in 2010, or about $1,200 for every U.S. household. It employs 96,000 workers and operates more than 230 subsidy programs.

The Department of Health and Human Services administers Medicare, Medicaid, and hundreds of other subsidy and welfare programs.

The department will spend $869 billion in 2010, or about $7,400 for every U.S. household. It employs 65,000 workers and operates more than 400 programs.

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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 Current Policies, Percent of Gross Domestic Product

Number of Federal Subsidy Programs

Video: Downsize the Department of Agriculture

From the Downsizing Blog

Transportation: Top Down or Bottom Up?

America’s transportation system needs more centralized, top-down planning. At least, that’s what the Brookings Institution’s Robert Puentes advocates in a 2,350-word article in the May 23 Wall Street Journal. Read more


Federal Pension Reform

The Washington Post reports that both Republicans and Democrats are looking to require federal employees to pick up a larger share of their pension contributions. The article notes that federal employees enjoy benefits that aren’t available to most private sector workers: Read more


Federal Gas Taxes and Federalism

Last week I discussed the Obama administration’s decision to redistribute federal high-speed rail money rejected by Florida Gov. Rick Scott. I noted that “Florida taxpayers were spared their state’s share of maintaining the line, but they’re still going to be forced to help foot the bill for passenger-rail projects in other states.” My underlying point was that the states should be allowed to make their own transportation decisions with their own money. Read more


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