WASHINGTON — Cutting wasteful government spending is one of those exercises that even the most ardent political opponents agree is a good thing. But what one does with those savings is quite another matter.

On Wednesday, President Obama signed an executive order cutting federal spending on things like promotional plaques and mugs, cellphones and iPads, official travel, and chauffeured cars for senior officials.

“It doesn’t replace the importance of the work that Congress needs to do in coming up with a balanced, bold plan to reduce our deficit,” Mr. Obama said in a ceremony in the Oval Office, “but it indicates once again that there are things we can do right now that will actually deliver better government more efficiently.”