Obama orders spending cuts
21-04-2009
In his debut cabinet meeting, President Barack Obama has ordered his government to cut US$100 million from the US federal budget within 90 days, with an eye on the ballooning deficit.
Correspondents say the call highlights Mr Obama's vow to slash wasteful spending as he is assailed by critics who warn his ambitious political programme and expenditure to revive the economy will bankrupt future generations.
But critics are already assailing the $100 million figure as miniscule compared to the size of the budget deficit, projected to hit at least $1.7 trillion in fiscal 2009.
"One hundred million dollars there, a $100 million here, pretty soon even in Washington it adds up to real money," Mr Obama said, though he agreed with a reporter's question that the initial target was a 'drop in the bucket.'
The president, flanked by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, said he was proud of his cabinet which took office at a time of rare national financial peril.
