I've never stammered on this issue. I have always responded to liberals asking what I'd cut...this list includes a number of my cuts. I would make some changes to this list, but as a ball park starting place it isn't too bad. but instead of gifting federal land to the states I'd use it to offset the unfunded liabilities the federal government has. The federal government owns roughly 30% of all the land in the US...that is insane! But the value is also insane and could offset the massive hole in social security funding that the thieves in DC have taken.
also, they put off getting rid of the department of education and just gut it some...no, get rid of it. Education is a state province, not a federal one. And, while it's not the big ticket other things are, but get rid if the federal arts stuff...they can gift the museums to the states, but again, it's not constitutional for the federal government to spend tax money on art, rather it is questionable quality or not. And the federal government doesn't need to own radio stations either...sell NPR. Regarding the military, let Europe defend themselves, same with Japan and South Korea...move most if not all of those troops to bases along the US boarder. We'll see how excited illegals are to sneak in through a live fire range...and let the army deal with mexican gangs trying to cross the boarder with their drugs. Close the bases in Europe...huge savings there. Mothball bases elsewhere in case they are needed in the future, but again, big savings.
And, while it’s not the big ticket other things are,
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More is spent on K-12 education than on the military. This includes local, state, and federal funding.
Our government K-12 schools are sucking the life blood out of our economy. Really they are! Every effort should be made to move to vouchers, tax credits, and charters. We should work toward complete separation of school and state with parents paying for their own kids education with charity schooling for the poorest.
As it is now, citizens are groaning under heavy property taxes. If they rent, the property tax is passed on in the form of higher rents. In my county more than 60% of our property taxes go to fund government K-12 schools. Citizens literally no longer their homes and businesses. The government does. The government is the landlord and we a mere renters.
High property taxes paid by businesses is reflected in the cost of the products made. Everyone in the U.S. pays property taxes. Some pay directly. Others pay though higher rents and in the higher than necessary costs of the goods and services they buy. U.S. made goods are at a disadvantage on the world market. This encourages businesses to relocate outside of the U.S.
One more thing:
Government school accounting practices would make an Enron accountant blush! Double or triple the amount your state claims it spends on K-12 schooling. For instance, in my state, retired school employees are not considered a school expense. They are instead in the “retired government employee” accounting column.