Government cut figure used in estimates (4)
I believe the answer is:
stat
'figure used in estimates' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'government cut' is the wordplay.
'government' becomes 'state' (the state can mean government authority).
'cut' means to remove the last letter.
'state' with its final letter removed is 'STAT'.
(Other definitions for stat that I've seen before include "Photocopy" , "copy" , "figure used in estimates" , "Might it control warmth" , "accepted numerical fact" .)