Senate approves $5 billion in cuts to overlapping programs

Senate lawmakers on Wednesday approved a measure to cut $5 billion in duplicative federal programs.

Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Tom Coburn, R-Okla., sponsored the amendment, attached to reauthorization legislation for small business, that directs the Office of Management and Budget within 150 days to eliminate, consolidate, or streamline duplicative federal programs identified by the Government Accountability Office. If enacted, the measure would apply at least $5 billion in cost savings toward deficit reduction.

A GAO report, released in March, identified 34 areas where agencies, offices, or initiatives might have similar or overlapping objectives. For example, five agencies within the Transportation Department, covering more than 100 programs, deal with surface transportation. Three agencies and 18 programs play a role in domestic food assistance programs. And 10 agencies, encompassing 82 programs, focus on teacher quality, often with little empirical evidence that the initiatives are effective, the watchdog found.

"While $5 billion admittedly is 'small ball' when compared to our $1.6 trillion deficit and $14 trillion debt, this represents a beginning," Warner said. "It shows we will explore every opportunity to cut costs and save taxpayer money."

Coburn called the proposal a "common-sense first step."

"If the debate about the [continuing resolution] is the end of our efforts to streamline government, both parties and the country have already lost," Coburn said. "I'm confident we could save taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars without harming Americans who need vital services. And in many cases, smart consolidations will improve the quality of those services."