![Capitol building](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/optimized/public/2025-05/DownsizingGovt%20-%20Hero%2016x9_Angular.jpg?itok=6gRuCKZh) # Downsizing Government At a Glance Your Guide to Cutting Federal Spending Share This Topic ##### Browse by Federal Department [Agriculture](/department-agriculture)--- [Commerce](/department-commerce)--- [Defense](/department-defense)--- [Education](/department-education)--- [Energy](/department-energy)--- [Health and Human Services](/department-health-human-services)--- [Homeland Security](/department-homeland-security)--- [Housing and Urban Development](/department-housing-urban-development)--- [Interior](/department-interior)--- [Labor](/department-labor)--- [Social Security](/social-security-administration)--- [Transportation](/department-transportation)--- [Other Government Agencies and Programs](/other-government-agencies-programs-0) Mini DS Chart ##### Blog Posts ##### [Federal Crop Insurance](/blog/federal-crop-insurance) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) ##### [Farm Subsidies: More, More, More](/blog/farm-subsidies-more-more-more) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) ##### [Pardoning Government Corruption](/blog/pardoning-government-corruption) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) ##### [Fraud in Farm Subsidy Programs](/blog/fraud-farm-subsidy-programs) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) and [Yasmeen Kallash-Kyler](https://www.cato.org/people/yasmeen-kallash-kyler) ##### [GOP Bill Hikes Farm Subsidies](/blog/gop-bill-hikes-farm-subsidies) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) ##### About Downsizing Government 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) #### Federal Policy Basics [![constitution-flag.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2021-12/constitution-flag.jpg?itok=16VtfD80)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/constitutional-basics) Study ### [Constitutional Basics](/downsizing-government-essay/constitutional-basics) By [Roger Pilon](https://www.cato.org/people/roger-pilon) We are all created equal, as defined by our natural rights; thus, no one has rights superior to those of anyone else. [![Media Name: 201301_budget_mini.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/raslider/201301_budget_mini.jpg?itok=hTg1jomq)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/plan-cut-federal-government-spending) Study ### [A Plan to Cut Federal Government Spending](/downsizing-government-essay/plan-cut-federal-government-spending) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) Under the Constitution, the federal government was assigned specific limited powers, and most government functions were left to the states. [![Government Omnious](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-10/GettyImages-1474827705.jpg?itok=heSCxYT8)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/bureaucratic-failure-federal-government) Study ### [Bureaucratic Failure in the Federal Government](/downsizing-government-essay/bureaucratic-failure-federal-government) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) Only one-third of people believe that it gives competent service, and people think that more than half of the tax dollars sent to Washington are wasted. [![Government Spending](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2024-12/government-spending%20Cropped.jpg?itok=HkW5WNLc)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/fiscal-federalism) Study ### [Fiscal Federalism](/downsizing-government-essay/fiscal-federalism) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) Rather than being a positive feature of American federalism, the aid system produces irresponsible policymaking. [![Government Spending](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2023-12/government-spending-Cropped.jpg?itok=9kEfxG76)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/congressional-incentives-government-failure) Study ### [Congressional Incentives and Government Failure](/downsizing-government-essay/congressional-incentives-government-failure) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) The problem with this “public interest theory of government” is that it has little real-world explanatory power. [![Bureaucracy, Red Tape](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2024-09/red-tape.jpg?itok=plEZQUNI)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/central-planning-government-failure) Study ### [Central Planning and Government Failure](/downsizing-government-essay/central-planning-government-failure) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) Markets spawn prosperity by integrating production and consumption across the nation and around the globe. [![Federal Gov Costs](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-10/GettyImages-1458809431.jpg?itok=TsxRkiQ1)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/federal-government-cost-overruns) Study ### [Federal Government Cost Overruns](/downsizing-government-essay/federal-government-cost-overruns) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) and [Nicole Kaeding](https://www.cato.org/people/nicole-kaeding) One aspect of federal waste is frequent cost overruns on major projects, such as weapon systems and infrastructure. [![Margaret Thatcher](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-05/margaret-thatcher.jpg?itok=mBKPT-j7)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/privatization) Study ### [Privatization](/downsizing-government-essay/privatization) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) Despite the global success of privatization, reforms have largely bypassed our own federal government. [![federal debt](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-04/federal%20debt.jpg?itok=hJ3Zczxr)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/problems-federal-government-debt) Study ### [The Problems with Federal Government Debt](/downsizing-government-essay/problems-federal-government-debt) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) Accumulated federal debt has doubled over the past seven years, and it will keep growing unless policymakers enact major reforms. [![Media Name: 201706_infrastructure2.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/raslider/201706_infrastructure2.jpg?itok=N5cbekpV)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/infrastructure-investment) Study ### [Infrastructure Investment](/downsizing-government-essay/infrastructure-investment) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) Government infrastructure, such as highways and bridges, is also important. Some advocates say that our infrastructure is crumbling and that more federal spending is needed to fix the problems. [![Federal Government](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-10/GettyImages-1488479430.jpg?itok=NGPV_NYs)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/fraud-abuse-federal-programs) Study ### [Fraud and Abuse in Federal Programs](/downsizing-government-essay/fraud-abuse-federal-programs) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) and [Tad DeHaven](https://www.cato.org/people/tad-dehaven) There have been efforts to reduce improper payments, but the abuse of federal programs continues at high levels.