In a speech at the America First Policy Institute in Washington, Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy explained one of his goals if he manages to reach the White House in 2024: to cut the number of civilian federal employees by about 75% over a period of four years.
We will fire 1 million federal employees in 2025. Meanwhile, there are over 8 million job openings in America right now. pic.twitter.com/tDqMEHvi07
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) September 14, 2023
This plan is not new, according to his campaign website, Ramaswamy aims to "dismantle managerial bureaucracy," "shut down toxic government agencies," "end civil service protections for bureaucrats," "move >75% of federal employees out of Washington D.C.," and "cut wasteful expenditures."
Shutting down certain agencies and departments
Among the agencies and departments that Ramaswamy aims to shut down are: the Department of Education, FBI, Food and Nutrition Service, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Republican candidate claimed that all of them are "redundant" and added that their functions and duties would be transferred to other departments:
We will reduce federal employees by 75%, shut down redundant agencies ... This is the single most powerful lever to unleash the U.S. economy. All that’s required is a U.S. President with sufficient spine & knowledge to act.
Tomorrow, I will lay out a detailed plan for shutting down *five* major federal agencies using executive authority under *existing* statutes. We will reduce federal employees by 75%, shut down redundant agencies, & rescind >50% of federal regulations which fail to meet the West… pic.twitter.com/yMizgrI6Qu
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) September 12, 2023
Using the "authority" granted to him as president
Ramaswamy also explained that his main tool to achieve his goals will be the "authority" granted to him as president. In the words of the presidential candidate, "The President of the United States enjoys broad statutory authority to prescribe rules for the civil service." He is referring to executive orders that do not need to be approved by Congress:
Truth: The President of the United States enjoys broad statutory authority to prescribe rules for the civil service. The President may “prescribe such regulations for the admission of individuals into the civil service in the executive branch as will best promote the efficiency of that service” (5 U.S.C. 3301). The President has similar power to “prescribe rules governing the competitive service” (5 U.S.C. 3302), which includes most federal bureaucrats.
Myth: The President of the United States doesn’t have the ability to set the “HR Policies” of the federal government.
Truth: The President of the United States enjoys broad statutory authority to prescribe rules for the civil service. The President may “prescribe such… pic.twitter.com/1bxk1RXnGw
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) September 13, 2023
