WASHINGTON \u2014\u00a0If you have suggestions on how to save money on building the F-35 fleet, or on how to reorganize Veterans Affairs hospitals to be more efficient, President Trump wants to hear from you.
Trump made cutting government waste a frequent promise on the campaign trail, although outside analysts have argued that potential savings won\u2019t be enough to offset spending on the president\u2019s proposed new programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the idea mirrors similar actions by previous presidents, including President Barack Obama. In December 2009, he launched a new “openness in government” initiative that included input from the public on ways to make operations of federal agencies more transparent and less costly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Details how the public can submit ideas will be published in the Federal Register in coming days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The final report from OMB is expected to include whether some federal agency functions “would be better left to state or local governments, or to the private sector” and “the costs of shutting down or merging agencies.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
In January 2015, the Pentagon’s Defense Business Board suggested the Defense Department could cut $125 billion in spending over five years by reducing services from contractors, implementing early retirements, reworking contracts and reducing administrative costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
VA officials have also faced charges of wasteful spending in recent years, including expensive overruns on hospital constructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n