To develop a foundation to carry out energy policy, we consolidated
scattered energy programs and launched the Synthetic Fuels Corporation; to
give education the priority it deserves and at the same time reduce HHS to
more manageable size, I gave education a seat at the Cabinet table, to
create a stronger system for attacking waste and fraud, I reorganized audit
and investigative functions by putting an Inspector General in major
agencies. Since I took office, we have submitted 14 reorganization
initiatives and had them all approved by Congress. We have saved hundreds
of millions of dollars through the adoption of businesslike cash management
principles and set strict standards for personal financial disclosure and
conflict of interest avoidance by high Federal officials.
To streamline the structure of the government, we have secured approval of
14 reorganization initiatives, improving the efficiency of the most
important sectors of the government, including energy, education, and civil
rights enforcement. We have eliminated more than 300 advisory committees as
well as other agencies, boards and commissions which were obsolete or
ineffective. Independent Inspectors General have been appointed in major
agencies to attack fraud and waste. More than a billion dollars of
questionable transactions have been identified through their audit
activities.
The adoption of business-like cash management and debt collection
initiatives will save over $1 billion, by streamlining the processing of
receipts, by controlling disbursements more carefully, and by reducing idle
cash balances. Finally this Administration has set strict standards for
personal financial disclosure and conflict of interest avoidance by high
Federal officials, to elevate the level of public trust in the government.