Current economic conditions have put the federal government under great pressure and strain. On one hand you have failed corporations, who are too big to fall and the government has to rescue them. So the government is in a position of hostage by big corporations. On the other hand, you have various programs that need financing, states that are in trouble and need financial help from the government, various infrastructure and other programs (news ones as well) and not enough money. Makes sense to start prioritizing and also start thinking how to control these costs and cut back on some of them, so we don’t wind up in a situation when the government simply needs to print more money, in order to meet its obligations.