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NEWS

For Immediate Release Contact: Curtis Kalin (202) 467-5318


September 19, 2017 ckalin@cagw.org

Citizens Against Government Waste Releases Prime Cuts 2017:


Balances Budget Within Three Years
(Washington, D.C.) Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today released Prime Cuts 2017,
the latest edition of the groups comprehensive waste-cutting recommendations that would eliminate
unnecessary and ineffective federal programs and spending.

Prime Cuts 2017 facts:


- Prime Cuts has been published annually since 1993 and addresses every area of government
spending.
- 607 recommendations from bipartisan and nonpartisan sources including the Government
Accountability Office, Congressional Budget Office (CBO), President Trumps fiscal year (FY)
2018 budget, and former President Obamas Cuts, Consolidations, and Savings budget
recommendations.
- Total savings from Prime Cuts 2017 are $336.2 billion in the first year and $2.3 trillion over
five years.
- Since CAGWs inception in 1984, the implementation of the groups recommendations has
saved taxpayers more than $1.8 trillion.
- The CBO estimates that the FY 2017 budget deficit will be $693 billion. Therefore, if all the
Prime Cuts recommendations are adopted, a balanced budget could be achieved within three
years.
- At a speech to the Urban League in Philadelphia on September 7, 2016, President Trump
promised: I will ask that savings be accomplished through common sense reforms that
eliminate government waste and budget gimmicks.

Examples:

- Eliminate the Market Access Program (MAP), a corporate welfare program that funnels taxpayer
dollars to large, profitable corporations and trade associations. Eliminating MAP would save
nearly $1 billion over five years.
- Eliminate the $500 million earmark in FY 2017 for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. The
F-35 is currently $170 billion over budget and on pace to become the most expensive weapon
system in history, including an estimated lifetime cost of $1 trillion for operation and
maintenance.

1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 1075 Washington, D.C. 20004 (202) 467-5300 media@cagw.org www.cagw.org
- Cutting funds for the Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs) has bipartisan support.
Former President Obama recommended reducing funding for CDBGs because, the
demonstration of outcomes [is] difficult to measure and evaluate, and President Trumps FY
2018 budget would eliminate the grants altogether, saving $3.2 billion in one year.
- Eliminate the sugar, dairy, and peanut programs, which would collectively save $1.5 billion in
one year.
- Suspending federal land purchases would save $466 million in the first year.
- Repeal of the Davis-Bacon Act would save $512 million in one year.
- Reducing Medicare improper payments by 50 percent and increasing the use of software asset
management tools would also save taxpayers billions of dollars.

CAGW President Tom Schatz said in a statement:


By following the blueprint provided by CAGWs Prime Cuts 2017, wasteful government spending
would be dramatically cut, and the U.S. would achieve a balanced budget within President Trumps first
term. The only way to put the nation on a path toward fiscal sanity is for leaders to make bold decisions
to reduce waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement. Prime Cuts 2017 is an invaluable resource for them
to achieve that objective.
Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating
waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.

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1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 1075 Washington, D.C. 20004 (202) 467-5300 media@cagw.org www.cagw.org

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