The annual federal budget sets the priorities, size, functions, and cost of the government for the fiscal year.
They boil down to managing the government's money and commerce, establishing courts, defining crimes and punishing violations, defending the nation, establishing the Post Office and roads, granting patents and copyrights, and overseeing the District of Columbia and federal facilities.
They include conducting criminal investigations and prosecutions; commanding military forces; conducting foreign relations; determining agency policy, regulations, and program priorities for budget requests; managing federal employees; controlling intelligence operations; procuring goods and services for federal use, managing contracts, and disposing of property; approving agency responses to Freedom of Information Act requests; approving federal licensing actions and inspections; and responding to federal audits.
Basically, the overall work of the Departments of the Treasury, Defense, State, Commerce, and Justice; all intelligence agencies; the Office of Personnel Management; General Services Administration; and the Office of Management and Budget are established priorities, as are the work of Congress and the federal judiciary.
If the federal cyber corps were to do an unannounced overnight purge of all federal devices for porn, then thousands of pink slips could be handed out the next day.
Halt all support for illegal activities, including any funding going to illegal migrants or those supporting their movement to and dwelling in the US. Stop all federal activities that promote discrimination, such as grant and contract set-asides for certain genders, races, communities, etc.
Get rid of the Jones Act, The Davis-Bacon Act, and any other legislation that increases the cost of federal activities for no benefit.
We're not talking about saving money here; we're talking about justifying any federal presence and expenses.
Why is an agency, commission, or board needed at the federal level? Is there any federal requirement that the states can't accomplish with their own funds? Is there any need for the Department of Education or the EPA? Why can't most agencies or their overseas offices be subsumed into the State Department? Why is Veterans Affairs not part of Defense? Why is Homeland Security not part of Justice? Why isn't the US Trade Representative part of Commerce? Chop off the few top layers and just incorporate the work they do.
Do we still need federal intervention in farming? Housing? Labor? With less going to the federal government, the people would have a much greater voice in how their tax dollars are spent and ensure that the greatest benefit is to local needs.
Abolish federal student loan guarantees; if individuals or universities are responsible for funding higher education, you can bet the cost will go down and success will go up.
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