# Other Government Agencies and Programs 

[![Dam](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-05/dam%20Cropped.jpg?itok=XPBJLKka)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/cutting-army-corps-engineers) 

Study 

### [Cutting the Army Corps of Engineers](/downsizing-government-essay/cutting-army-corps-engineers) 

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

The U.S. military has needed engineering services since General George Washington sought French engineers to help him prosecute the Revolutionary War.

[![taxes](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-02/tax.jpg?itok=6fWWeRhW)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/earned-income-tax-credit-small-benefits-large-costs) 

Study 

### [Earned Income Tax Credit: Small Benefits, Large Costs](/downsizing-government-essay/earned-income-tax-credit-small-benefits-large-costs) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) and [Veronique de Rugy](https://www.cato.org/people/veronique-derugy) 

While the EITC is administered through the tax code, it is primarily a spending program.

[![trade war](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-04/GettyImages-2198778260.jpg?itok=6mQOupiV)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/ending-export-import-bank) 

Study 

### [Ending the Export-Import Bank](/downsizing-government-essay/ending-export-import-bank) 

By [Sallie James](https://www.cato.org/people/sallie-james) 

The Ex-Im Bank subsidizes a small group of selected companies, but it claims to create broad benefits for the economy.

[![Small Business Cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2024-05/small-business-cropped.jpg?itok=t7IHUfj1)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/terminating-small-business-administration) 

Study 

### [Terminating the Small Business Administration](/downsizing-government-essay/terminating-small-business-administration) 

By [Tad DeHaven](https://www.cato.org/people/tad-dehaven) and [Veronique de Rugy](https://www.cato.org/people/veronique-derugy) 

The Small Business Administration was established in 1953 after the demise of the Depression-era Reconstruction Finance Corporation

[![Norris Dam (Tennessee Valley Authority)](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-05/norris-dam%20Cropped.jpg?itok=Y2PhaAXc)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/privatizing-tennessee-valley-authority) 

Study 

### [Privatizing the Tennessee Valley Authority](/downsizing-government-essay/privatizing-tennessee-valley-authority) 

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

The TVA is mainly a wholesaler of power, selling it to 155 municipal and cooperative distributors, who in turn sell it to retail customers.

[![US Agency for International Development (USAID)](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-02/USAID%20Cropped.jpg?itok=ja6htGUf)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/us-foreign-aid-programs) 

Study 

### [U.S. Foreign Aid Programs](/downsizing-government-essay/us-foreign-aid-programs) 

By [Ian Vásquez](https://www.cato.org/people/ian-vasquez) 

Countries that have achieved growth through market reforms have generally done so because of domestic factors unrelated to the receipt of foreign aid.

[![Front of post office painted in blue and buff with UNITED STATES POST OFFICE in capital gold letters](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2020-09/202008_usps_mail_post_office.jpg?itok=aL29d9Yx)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/privatizing-us-postal-service) 

Study 

### [Privatizing the U.S. Postal Service](/downsizing-government-essay/privatizing-us-postal-service) 

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

The USPS has a legal monopoly over letters and mailboxes.

[![Museum](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2022-11/museum.jpg?itok=bvjZF7qQ)](https://www.cato.org/briefing-paper/end-national-endowment-arts) 

Study 

### [End the National Endowment for the Arts](/briefing-paper/end-national-endowment-arts) 

By [Ryan Bourne](https://www.cato.org/people/ryan-bourne) 

Art can survive and thrive without public funding.

[![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)