The federal government is spending too much, running large deficits, and heading toward a financial crisis. If government spending is not cut, average working families will face huge tax increases that dwarf anything seen in decades. Tax increases would damage the economy and be strongly resisted by the public. As a consequence, policymakers need to begin identifying programs in the federal budget that can be cut, terminated, transferred to the states, or privatized.

More on Federal Budget Policy

Commentary

How Serious Are Republicans?

By Michael D. Tanner. National Review (Online). May 1, 2013.

Vultures of Capitol Hill

By Michael D. Tanner. National Review (Online). April 24, 2013.

Chained CPI Won’t Fix Entitlements

By Michael D. Tanner. Orange County Register. April 18, 2013.

Cato Studies

Why in the World Are We All Keynesians Again? The Flimsy Case for Stimulus Spending

By Andrew T. Young. Policy Analysis No. 721. February 14, 2013.

Spending Beyond Our Means: How We Are Bankrupting Future Generations

By Jagadeesh Gokhale. White Paper. February 13, 2013.

Infrastructure Investment: A State, Local, and Private Responsibility

By Chris Edwards. Tax and Budget Bulletin No. 67. January 18, 2013.

Articles

Forget the Fiscal Cliff and the Fear the Debt Crisis

Doug Bandow. The Wainwright Perspective. February 21, 2013.

How Cutting Pentagon Spending Will Fix U.S. Defense Strategy

Benjamin H. Friedman. Foreign Affairs. November 2, 2011.

Rethinking Redistribution

Jeffrey A. Miron. National Affairs. Winter 2011.

Public Filings

Comments on Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Major Capital Investment Projects

By Randal O’Toole. Testimony. March 5, 2012.

Tax Reform to Encourage Growth, Reduce the Deficit, and Promote Fairness

By Daniel J. Mitchell. Testimony. March 1, 2012.

Federal Infrastructure Investment

By Chris Edwards. Testimony. November 16, 2011.

Reviews & Journals

Events

At the Brink: Will Obama Push Us Over the Edge?

Featuring John R. Lott, Jr. and David Boaz. April 19, 2013. Book Forum.

Tax Cutting and Economic Growth: Lessons from the Coolidge Tax Reform

Featuring Daniel J. Mitchell and Marian L. Tupy. April 11, 2013. Policy Forum.

Cato Club Naples - The Sequester and Other Possible Victories in the Battle to Restrain Leviathan

Featuring Daniel J. Mitchell and Robert A. Levy. April 10, 2013. City Seminar.

Downsizing the Federal Government