WASHINGTON  The leaders of President Obama's fiscal commission are recommending nearly $1.5 trillion in domestic and defense spending cuts from the federal budget over the next decade, much of it by shrinking the size and freezing the pay of the federal workforce. The plan includes 58 ideas for savings that range from $100 million to $28 billion. It's part of a broader proposal by the commission co-chairmen to save more than $3.8 trillion over the next decade. The plan — unveiled to commission members Wednesday — was drawn up by commission co-chairmen Erskine Bowles, a Democrat, and Alan Simpson, a Republican, both appointed by President Obama. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., a commission member, helped draft the list of spending cuts. The panel can only recommend specific cuts while calling for broader caps on spending. Yet the leaders provided a laundry list of suggestions to show it can be done. "There's plenty of beef in our proposal," Bowles said. The panel must report by Dec. 1. To prompt congressional action, the plan or any part of it must be approved by 14 of 18 commission members. Suggested savings in 2015 include: •$28 billion by finding efficiencies and reducing overhead in the Defense Department, partly as it was recommended by Secretary Robert Gates earlier this year. Gates wants to apply the savings to force structure and modernization; this would put the savings toward deficit reduction. •$20 billion by cutting back on Pentagon weapons purchases by 15%. It would end programs such as the V-22 Osprey and ship-to-shore assault vehicles and reduce the number of F-35 fighter jets to be purchased. •$18 billion by cutting 250,000 contractors for domestic agencies, from among at least 2.5 million. •$16 billion by eliminating all earmarks, the parochial or pet projects included by lawmakers in spending bills. There were more than 9,000 in 2010. •$15 billion by implementing a three-year freeze beginning in 2012 on non-defense salaries, bonuses and other compensation for federal workers. •$13 billion by cutting the federal workforce 10% by 2020, which would be done by hiring two workers for every three who leave the government. The goal would be to cut 200,000 out of about 2 million employees. Some of the cuts are more symbolic than substantive. A 15% cut in the White House and congressional budgets would save $800 million in 2015, less than 0.2% of that year's projected deficit. Others would be controversial, such as increasing out-of-pocket health costs for some veterans whose injuries are not connected to their service. Cuts to the Smithsonian could force it to begin charging fees. Funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which helps support National Public Radio and public television, would be zeroed out. Some are standbys, such as slowing the growth of foreign aid, an Obama priority, saving $4.6 billion annually. Others are new ideas, such as a $1.2 billion savings by eliminating federal subsidies for commercial spaceflight. Airports would see funding cuts. The plan calls for $2 billion in savings by requiring airports to pay more for aviation security, and $1.2 billion by eliminating capital investment grants to large and medium airports. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more