April 20, 2009
$100 million? I’m not impressed.

Posted at 6:40 am, in: Budget, Spending
Tags: Barack Obama

Is this supposed to impress us:

At the first Cabinet meeting of his presidency, President Obama on Monday will challenge the departments to collectively cut $100 million over the next three months, a senior administration official said.

The official said the exercise is “part of his commitment to go line by line through the budget to cut spending and reform government.”

“Agencies will be required to report back with their savings at the end of 90 days,” the official said.

Examples of savings that agencies have begun to implement already that the president will point to during the 11:30 a.m. meeting:

—The Department of Veterans Affairs has cancelled or delayed 26 conferences, saving nearly $17.8 million. The department will be using less expensive alternatives, like video conferencing.

—The U.S. Department of Agriculture is working to combine 1,500 employees from seven office locations into a single facility in 2011, saving $62 million over a 15-year lease term.

—The Department of Homeland Security estimates that it can save up to $52 million over five years just by purchasing office supplies in bulk.

Well, if it was supposed to impress me, it has failed. What’s $100 million when this administration is spending trillions? This reminds me of that time we were supposed to be impressed by Obama turning down the $100,000 to redecorate the White House.