House speaker urges vigilance on spending oversight

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., ordered committee chairmen Wednesday to continue scrutinizing all programs under their jurisdiction with an eye toward reducing the historically high budget deficit.

"It is essential that you redouble your efforts in conducting oversight of all aspects of federal spending and government operations to help achieve deficit reduction and long-term fiscal responsibility," Pelosi wrote in a letter.

The letter follows up on Pelosi's plea to panel leaders last year to make lists of redundant and unnecessary programs. She asked the chairmen Wednesday to outline their plans for oversight hearings by May 28.