WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama called his first formal Cabinet meeting on Monday, telling department and agency chiefs to find ways in the next 90 days to cut at total of $100 million out of their budgets.
Here are savings the White House said already have been identified, a tiny portion of next year’s overall budget which is forecast at about $3.5 trillion. Many of the cuts listed by the administration stretch years into the future and will not have a significant impact in next year’s spending.
AGRICULTURE
_Combining 1,500 employees from seven office locations into a single facility in 2011 - saving $62 million over a 15-year lease term
_Improper farm program payments, $16 million
_Internet rather than in-person training, $1.3 million
EDUCATION
_Savings in allocation of computer equipment to employees, $8.7 million.
_Eliminating a position at the Paris UNESCO office, closing office, $713,000.
HOMELAND SECURITY
_Bying office supplies in bulk, $52 million over five years.
_Buying multipurpose office equipment, $10 million over five years.
_Consolidation of computer software license purchases, $47 million.
_Transportation and electricity savings, $3 million.
_Ending consulting contracts for creation of new seals and logos, $3 million.
JUSTICE
_Switching asset forfeiture notices from newspapers to Internet, $6.7 million in first five years.
STATE
_Converting immigrant visa processing to electronic correspondence, $1 million.
_Consolidating posts at embassies, saving USAID and Department of State, $5 million annually.
_Consolidation of contracts for communications, office supplies, furniture, medical supplies, 7 percent to 10 percent over current costs which were not given.
_Savings estimated on at tens of thousands of dollars by ending storage of excess equipment.
TRANSPORTATION
_Cost monitoring by senior officials that is saving an estimated 15 percent to 20 percent on projects put for bid under the Obama stimulus package.
VETERANS AFFAIRS
_Canceling or delaying 26 conferences, saving nearly $17.8 million by using less expensive alternatives like video conferencing.
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