Former President Donald Trump reiterated his commitment to dismantling the unaccountable and unelected administrative state that shapes much of the federal government’s far-left policies. In a detailed feature article in Time Magazine, Trump outlined his plans for a potential second term, with a focus on draining the “swamp” and “deep state” that he believes has infiltrated the government.
Among the various initiatives discussed, Trump highlighted the need to overhaul the administrative state, which he describes as a collection of bureaucratic agencies wielding power and creating rules independently of the elected branches of government. With nearly two million federal employees in these agencies, the administrative state has the ability to impede the agenda of a newly elected president.
Trump’s administration had previously taken steps to address this issue, such as reclassifying federal employees into Schedule F to improve accountability. However, President Joe Biden reversed this executive order upon taking office. If Trump were to be reelected, he has indicated plans to reintroduce this order and purge the unelected officials he believes are influencing the government.
Conservative experts argue that the administrative state’s power has grown due to a lack of legislative action by elected officials. They advocate for a restructuring of incentives in Washington to prioritize policy over politics. Despite the challenges involved in reforming the administrative state, Trump and his supporters are determined to make changes to reduce its influence on government operations.
