The federal government is projected to spend $46 trillion during the next 10 years; the proposed cuts of $2.4 trillion are just are a bit more than 5 percent.
5%. Why the fuss?
Because most of the 5% is going to come from that 15% of the budget that goes for non-defense “discretionary” spending. Do the math. That means that one-third of non-defense discretionary spending is on the block.
One third.
Of national parks, environmental regulation, medical research, space exploration (oh, wait we’ve already stopped doing that), bridges, highways, dams, agricultural research, labor mediation, pharmaceuticals review and approval, education, Indian affairs, forest firefighting, disaster relief, weather forecasting and warning, diplomacy. You know, the quality of life stuff.