# Department of the Interior 

[Back to Downsizing Government](/downsizing-government) 

##### Blog Posts 

##### [Devolve Federal Power to Reduce Division](/blog/devolve-federal-power-reduce-division) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) 

##### [Indian Reservations: Subsidies vs. Property Rights](/blog/indian-reservations-subsidies-vs-property-rights) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) 

##### [The Smokey View from the Northwest](/blog/smokey-view-northwest) 

By [Randal O’Toole](https://www.cato.org/people/randal-otoole) 

### [Timeline: Department of the Interior](/downsizing-government-essay/department-interior-timeline)

Explore a historical timeline of the Department of the Interior, showing how land, resource, and environmental policies have developed through key acts and reorganizations.

[View Timeline](/downsizing-government-essay/department-interior-timeline) 

##### Department of the Interior Spending 

[![Dept. of the Interior Static Graph](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/2025-10/InteriorOutlays.png?itok=wqMFtMF1)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government/charts#/selectedIDs=AG009) 

This chart was generated using our [interactive charting tool](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government/charts#/selectedIDs=AG009), which visualizes data from the federal spending database released by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

#### Featured Content 

[![Department of the Interior](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-05/department-of-the-interior%20Cropped.jpg?itok=EgdyrpJK)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/cutting-bureau-reclamation-reforming-water-markets) 

Study 

### [Cutting the Bureau of Reclamation and Reforming Water Markets](/downsizing-government-essay/cutting-bureau-reclamation-reforming-water-markets) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) and Peter J. Hill 

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.

[![Department of the Interior ](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-10/GettyImages-1499879108.jpg?itok=tlxnQOei)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/reforming-federal-land-management) 

Study 

### [Reforming Federal Land Management](/downsizing-government-essay/reforming-federal-land-management) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) and [Randal O’Toole](https://www.cato.org/people/randal-otoole) 

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.

[![Bureau of Indian Affairs](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-10/GettyImages-2234235734.jpg?itok=fkocMHQV)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/indian-lands-indian-subsidies-bureau-indian-affairs) 

Study 

### [Indian Lands, Indian Subsidies, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs](/downsizing-government-essay/indian-lands-indian-subsidies-bureau-indian-affairs) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) 

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has a long and troubled history, 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, not through subsidies and top-down regulations.

[![Downsizing Government](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2025-05/Downsizing%20Gov.png?itok=4YAi4cGI)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government) 

##### About 

The federal government is running huge budget deficits, spending too much, and heading toward a financial crisis. Without a change of direction in Washington, average working families will be faced with large tax increases and a lower standard of living. This project is designed to help policymakers and the public understand where federal spending goes and how to reform each government department. It describes the failings of agencies and identifies specific programs to cut. It also discusses the systematic reasons why government programs are often obsolete, mismanaged, or otherwise dysfunctional.

Please contact Chris Edwards at [cedwards@​cato.​org](mailto:cedwards@cato.org) with questions or comments.

[Information on the data sources for our charts.](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government/charts?showAbout=true)