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Obama Looks to Consolidate Six Departments

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    White House Budget Official Jeff Zients on the President’s plan to consolidate six economic departments.

  • Duration 3:40
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Asking congress for the power to merge agencies today he wants -- combined.

Six economic departments into one export agency movie says would create a leaner government.

Joining us now from the White House is -- -- OMB deputy director for management of the federal chief performance officer thank you for joining us.

Thanks for having it I was watching the president's news conference which Fox Business carried pretty much in its entirety unlike other business networks because we have always felt.

That leaner government is certainly.

An important.

An important issue that needs to be effectuate -- Today it appears that the president is doing that.

What is the number one pay off that that the taxpayer is going to see by squish I -- -- -- -- it's a technical term six agencies into one.

I consolidating six agencies -- one we will save billions of dollars and most importantly better serve.

Our customers of these agencies are what will be one agency.

-- serve them better by having one -- One website.

One telephone line to call.

And -- one mission to better serve American businesses small businesses in particular today small businesses have trouble.

Navigating the bureaucracy it's a -- Jeff designs.

-- you're probably gonna wanna stay tuned for this we have some breaking news please listen up we're gonna come back -- segment Adam you have breaking news on the -- -- European countries going downgrades NN also reaffirming first -- On Spain it's down two notches to -- single a and on France down.

One notch to double -- David.

All right so we have to downgrades Jeff I wanna go back to you on this particular issue.

I know it's not exactly what you came here talk about if you don't like just commenting on what about the downgrade in Europe how might that affect this over here.

Yet -- something that obviously is breaking news and I'll defer on that question returned to the president's request to congress.

Grant him consolidation authority.

Which is the ability.

To submit to congress for fast track approval proposals that will save money streamline government and make government services more effective it's what any chief executive Eric.

Pretty enthusiastically Wesley.

This is this is something that's related to that to the work that you guys who try to -- -- we constantly here year after -- -- -- Inspector general report about five years ago saying that we waste fifty billion a year in Medicare.

Why why do we fix that why can't we stop the waste and fraud in the programs that exist.

We're making significant progress the president put a stake in the ground that we would cut -- improper payments in -- We're on pace to.

Payments OK what is so that is something that the president is obviously put -- pushing you guys -- to put bring together but what other types of consolidation.

Is the president saying to your team make this happen now.

Well today the president's asking congress to given the authority to had to do it any chief executive would do which to modernize -- operations.

-- streamlined.

To cut costs and improve service all -- the same time we've also gotten rid of unneeded real estate.

Federal real estate and that a lot first time in a decade we cut overall federal contract in last year.

Jeff we got to run but any idea about who's replacing robots Jack -- is gonna be now they.

That's not easy for a decision the president needs to -- you wouldn't turn down the job -- Thanks for having me yeah aha I.

Could -- -- -- -- -- Story that we like to have you back anytime -- -- -- -- -- -- the science of.