The Senate has passed an amendment acting on a first-annual GAO report identifying redundant or overlapping federal agencies, offices, programs and initiatives to help policymakers reduce government spending.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Tom Coburn, R-Okla., had their amendment accepted as part of a small business bill, and it calls for at least $5 billion in savings based on opportunities identified in the GAO report.
The amendment directs OMB to act on existing administrative authority to eliminate and consolidate overlapping government programs and apply the savings to federal deficit reduction.
The amendment was passed 64 to 36 but a vote on the underlying bill has yet to be scheduled.
