Staff Reports
Vivek Ramaswamy, the ambitious entrepreneur turned political player, has emerged with grandiose plans for his new role in the Trump administration, which many hope could signal the end of bloated federal agencies. In a recent appearance on Fox News, Ramaswamy boldly suggested that numerous federal departments could get the boot under a Trump presidency. This isn’t merely a whimsical idea; it’s a political rallying cry that taps into the long-held desires of conservatives to rein in an oversized government.
The newly established “Department of Government Efficiency”—or DOGE for those keeping score at home—will be Ramaswamy’s playground. He seems eager to take a chainsaw to agencies like the Department of Education, the IRS, and the FBI, declaring them ripe for the chopping block. His assertion that major reductions in the federal workforce are on the horizon has some political observers chuckling with skepticism. After all, it’s one thing to wish for a sleeker government, and quite another to navigate the bureaucratic minefield that is federal legislation.
Vivek Ramaswamy, said on Sunday that some federal agencies will be “deleted outright” when the incoming administration takes office next year.
Ramaswamy said a trillion dollars that is spent by the U.S. federal government each year is not authorized by Congress. pic.twitter.com/4rO5jAIWPB
— NTD Television (@TelevisionNTD) November 18, 2024
Legal experts are already lining up on both sides. Ramaswamy believes the recent Supreme Court ruling in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo—a decision that has conservatives doing a victory dance—could bolster Trump’s plans to slash through bureaucratic red tape. This ruling, which effectively dismantled the Chevron doctrine, should enable more straightforward governance, at least in Ramaswamy’s estimation. However, not everyone is buying this sunny prediction. Detractors from the left are quick to assert that Ramaswamy’s enthusiasm and confidence do not translate into feasible actions without congressional approval.
The reality is that while Ramaswamy envisions a swift house-cleaning of the federal government, legal scholars like Mark Chenoweth remind all parties involved this isn’t some kind of fast-food order. The framework of the U.S. government dictates that Congress has the authority over federal agencies, making the idea of just waving a magic wand to eliminate them downright fanciful. But in a time where executive action is often viewed through a lenient lens, Ramaswamy’s eagerness to flex presidential power could redefine governmental operations post-haste.
The thought of trimming down government departments is not new among Republican leaders. Many GOP contenders have made similar promises—typically eyeing the Department of Education like it’s an unwanted houseguest. With past figures like Rick Perry fumbling to remember the agency names in 2012, there’s a humorous undercurrent to these attempts at downsizing. Trump famously tried (and failed) to eliminate 19 independent agencies during his first term, and if history teaches anything, it’s that the machinery of federal bureaucracy isn’t dismantled easily, no matter how rich a candidate’s vision may be.
As the debate rattles on, Ramaswamy’s bold declarations may only serve to energize Republican voters who dream of a leaner, meaner government. As various presidential hopefuls, including Ron DeSantis, eye the prospect of not just cutting but obliterating specific departments, the question now looms: how far can this energy translate into actual policy once the ballots are counted? With figures like Matt Gaetz already stoking the fires of reform, it looks like the Trump administration could be gearing up for one wild ride through the annals of governmental efficiency—or at least, the attempt thereof.
