The Trump administration on Wednesday was urged to move on a list of massive federal budget cuts already identified by federal authorities that could save over $3 trillion and cut the deficit by nearly 15 percent.

The taxpayer’s watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste listed 636 recommendations in its new “Prime Cuts 2018” report that would save $429.8 billion in the first year and $3.1 trillion over five years.

“As the U.S. budget hurdles toward trillion-dollar deficits and with the national debt exceeding $21 trillion, Prime Cuts 2018 is needed now, more than ever. The only way to put our country on a path toward fiscal sanity is for leaders to make bold decisions to reduce waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement,” said CAGW President Tom Schatz.



By following the blueprint provided by @GovWaste’s Prime Cuts 2018, wasteful government spending can be reined in. https://t.co/eQKTqDEXc3 pic.twitter.com/O55EKqNKZ3 — Thomas A. Schatz (@TomSchatzCAGW) September 26, 2018



While other groups work up their own ideas of where cuts should come, CAGW has a unique approach: list the cuts already proposed by federal agencies and authorities including presidents and the General Accountability Office.

The group also has a strong track record. Since its inception in 1984, cuts made on its recommendations have saved taxpayers more than $1.8 trillion.

Below are some of the examples highlighted by the group from its Prime Cuts 2018 report:



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 $2.7 billion earmark in FY 2018 for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. The F-35 is currently more than $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.

Cutting funds for the Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs), which has bipartisan support. Former President Obama recommended reducing funding for CDBGs because, “the demonstration of outcomes [is] difficult to measure and evaluate,” and President Trump’s FY 2019 budget would eliminate the grants altogether, saving $3 billion in one year.

Eliminate the sugar, dairy, and peanut programs, which would collectively save nearly $1.5 billion in one year.

Suspending federal land purchases, which would save $466 million in the first year.

Repeal of the Davis-Bacon Act, which would save $512 million in one year.