(Washington, D.C.) – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today released Prime Cuts 2013, the latest edition of the group’s waste-cutting recommendations that could provide some much-needed relief for taxpayers by eliminating unnecessary and ineffective federal initiatives.  A comprehensive list of spending cuts is useful at any time; it is of particular importance when Congress and the President are facing multiple crucial budget decisions. 

The automatic cuts known as sequestration, necessitated by the Budget Control Act of 2011, kick in on March 1, 2013 barring a further delay or enactment of an alternative.  In addition, the continuing resolution funding the federal government for the first six months of fiscal year (FY) 2013 expires on March 27, 2013.  Further, the normal budget process for FY 2014 should have already begun.  The often hysterical rhetoric over sequestration has made it seem like allowing the cuts to occur will jeopardize national security and destroy the economy.  However, as then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen said on September 11, 2011, “the single-biggest threat to our national security is our debt.”

It is within the context of these looming, significant spending decisions that Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) releases Prime Cuts 2013.  CAGW has been publishing the document since 1993.  To date, the implementation of CAGW’s recommendations has helped save taxpayers $1.3 trillion.  This year’s version contains 557 recommendations that would save taxpayers $580.6 billion in the first year and $1.8 trillion over five years. 

In Prime Cuts 2013, no area of government spending is spared.  The list of sensible budget cuts included the Department of Agriculture’s Market Access Program, a corporate welfare program that funnels millions of dollars to large, profitable corporations; eliminating the sugar, dairy, and peanut programs; ending the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship program; reducing Medicare improper payments by 50 percent; replacing the $1 bill with the $1 coin; and increasing the use of both cloud computing and software asset management tools. 

Nor is the Department of Defense spared.  Many cuts can be made without jeopardizing national security, particularly the elimination of the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS), a program that has been plagued with cost overruns of nearly $2 billion and is now 10 years behind schedule. 

“By following the blueprint provided by CAGW’s Prime Cuts 2013, wasteful government spending can be cut and the nation can start on a path toward fiscal sanity,” said CAGW President Tom Schatz.  “Prime Cuts 2013 is essential reading for taxpayers, the media, and legislators alike.” 

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.