The White House is touting progress in cutting government waste and expanding that effort as it continues taking actions that need no congressional approval.

The administration on Tuesday was to announce pilot programs intended to further cut waste and fraud in the giant Medicare and Medicaid entitlement programs. The White House was releasing new figures saying the administration cut improper payments by nearly $18 billion in 2011 in such programs as Medicare, Medicaid, Pell Grants and food stamps.

Administration officials released details ahead of a formal announcement Tuesday.

Many of the moves that support Obama’s “we can’t wait” mantra are modest and bureaucratic, including the newest measures. They are intended to show a president in action while he largely faces gridlock with Republicans in Congress over jobs legislation.