New Delhi, Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican presidential contender, has presented a bold vision to reshape the federal government, encompassing plans to dismantle key agencies and drastically reduce the federal workforce. This stance aligns with the growing trend of conservative proposals targeting federal institutions, particularly law enforcement, and reflects the escalating discontent among GOP primary voters.
Ramaswamy’s proposals stand out as some of the most sweeping among Republican candidates vying to challenge former President Donald Trump. Speaking at the America First Policy Institute in Washington, he outlined his intention to cut the federal employee count by half in his first year in office and reduce it by a staggering 75% during his first term as president, should he secure the White House.
His agenda includes the closure of five federal agencies, most notably the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Education. Ramaswamy also intends to eliminate the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Food and Nutrition Service.
In articulating his vision, Ramaswamy emphasized the importance of elected officials being the primary drivers of government activities. However, implementing such a drastic downsizing of the federal workforce would likely encounter substantial resistance. Federal employees with civil service protections, supported by interest groups and lawmakers from both parties, would undoubtedly oppose such moves. While in office, Trump often criticized a perceived “deep state” within the bureaucracy but did not execute mass firings of rank-and-file employees.
Ramaswamy, a 38-year-old businessman, has garnered attention from primary voters, partly due to his strong performance in the initial Republican presidential debate. Despite running against Trump, he has repeatedly lauded the former president as the most effective of this century. Among the attendees during his recent speech was U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a staunch Trump ally in Congress.
Notably, Ramaswamy is not the sole Republican candidate advocating for a reduction in the federal workforce. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, for instance, has voiced intentions to eliminate the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Department of Commerce, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Education.
Beyond individual candidates, there exists a broader initiative to dismantle the federal government, supported by conservative organizations and former Trump administration officials. Their objective includes formulating a plan to replace federal employees with like-minded officials should Trump return to the White House.
Ramaswamy contends that sitting presidents often act as “puppets” unable to enact policies effectively. He also pledges to rescind federal regulations he deems unconstitutional.
Regarding his plans for the FBI, Ramaswamy envisions terminating 20,000 employees holding non-essential roles and reassigning 15,000 to the U.S. Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He argues that these employees lack specialization in their current roles.
Source AP
