Government Spending

The Heritage Foundation

Rolling back spending to 2008 levels to save trillions

Government is on track to consume one-third of the economy by the time today's newborns graduate from college. Our plan rolls back non-defense discretionary spending to 2008 levels, leaving most programs larger than they were in 2000. Maintaining this cap through 2015 can reduce the cost of government to less than 20 percent of the economy.

Get serious about the national debt

At current spending levels, within a generation the national debt will equal 90 percent of America's economic output - and it will continue rising. Under the Heritage plan, the debt falls to 30 percent of output over the same period - and it continues falling thereafter.

Restrict the federal government to its constitutional functions

Some federal programs, such as maintaining highways and managing education, can't be capably run from Washington. Our plan moves such state and local functions back to the states and communities where they belong. Some federal programs, such as air traffic control, would be privatized. Still others, like rail subsidies, are ended altogether.

Provide for the common defense - with effectiveness and efficiency

The most important role of the federal government is national security; it is vital to maintain sufficient military defenses. At the same time, we can cut waste from defense spending by combining duplicative programs and streamlining complex logistics. These reforms can make our military stronger, more modern, and more effective.

Sell government assets to help retire debt

The federal government owns huge swaths of commercial land, power generation facilities, valuable parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, underused buildings, and financial assets. Under our plan, $260 billion in federal assets would be sold over 15 years - an integral part of our strategy to balance the budget and reduce the national debt.