Donald Trump’s new picks for key positions in his administration are talking big about shaking up the government. They’re talking about possibly cutting entire agencies and laying off thousands of federal workers. But can they actually do that?
Experts say that Trump has a better shot at making big changes this time around. Why? Because he’s got more support in Congress, and he’s already placed 226 federal judges and three Supreme Court justices, which means his ideas could have a friendly ear in the courts when they get challenged.
So, how exactly could Trump try to shake up the government?
Can a President Really Cut Agencies?
It’s tough to just cut entire government agencies because they’re created by law. For example, the Department of Education was set up by Congress in 1979. To get rid of it or change it drastically, Congress would need to pass new laws. That’s not easy, even with a Republican-controlled Congress.
But Trump has a potential loophole. He’s talking about using a tactic that President Nixon used in the past: holding onto federal money that Congress has approved. This idea, called “impounding,” would allow him to withhold funds from agencies he thinks are wasteful. While a law passed in 1974 said presidents can’t do that, Trump is hinting he might try to challenge it in court.
Making Life Hard for Federal Workers
Another way Trump could shake things up is by making life harder for federal employees. One of his past moves was to relocate the Bureau of Land Management from Washington D.C. to Grand Junction, Colorado. The plan was to have the leadership closer to the land they manage, but most employees quit, and it was a struggle to replace them.
Trump has also talked about making it harder for federal workers to file complaints or cutting some of the job protections they have. He tried something like this at the end of his first term by creating a new category of employees who wouldn’t have the same legal protections as other workers. While this didn’t have much impact back then, it could be a bigger focus now.
But this kind of change could cost taxpayers in the long run if workers file lawsuits for wrongful termination or demand back pay.
Outsourcing Decisions and Hiding Who’s Making Them
To push his changes, Trump would need to install his supporters across government positions. One idea is to outsource background checks for his appointees, so they can be hired even if they have security concerns. He also wants to use “recess appointments,” which would let him appoint people to positions while the Senate is on break, bypassing some of the normal checks and balances.
Another tactic is to make big decisions in secret, making it harder for critics to stop him. Trump’s new “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) would operate outside the government, meaning its decisions and who’s involved might not be fully transparent. While Musk has said he wants staff to work for free, there’s a chance that lobbyists could get involved, especially if it helps shape future government spending.
In the end, Trump’s goal is to reduce government waste, fraud, and inefficiency, with the help of people like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who have both been vocal about wanting to cut down on government spending and regulation. If they get their way, we could see some major changes in how the government works.
It’s clear that Trump is determined to make a big impact on how the government functions, but whether he can actually pull it off is still up in the air. Only time will tell how far he can push his agenda.
