Will the Trump Administration really radically shrink govt? Why/Impact?

This one started off as a look at just whether President Trump would really abolish the U.S. Department of Education. But astoundingly and against all precedent, in Juily the Supreme Court said he can, using one of those shadow docket decisions that do not even explain the Court's reasoning. Lucky us, though. Gutting the federal government has been the dream of the conservative movement for 50+ years. Since the chainsaw is still aimed at almost all cabinet departments and independent agencies, and whole functions of govt, this topic remains relevant. In fact, with the Trump Administration openly using the govt shutdown to fire thousands of federal workers as retaliation against the Democrats (that is Trump's explicit justification!), events are still fast-moving.

There is a bigger problem in trying to understand what is happening and why. Federal workers and functions are being targeted with...little rhyme or reason in many cases, as near as I can tell. Yes, they destroyed foreign aid, seized control of independent agencies, rolled back green energy support, fired inspectors general, and eliminated as many of the dreaded DEI programs as they could. But many other cuts and layoffs seem more opportunistic than strategic. It's almost as if - as with deportations - they are trying to bring their numbers up with no underlying strategy or priorities.

Making it harder still to understand the full picture is that a lot of the cuts/layoffs are being done as close to invisibly as possible. Even the websites that try to track the gutting of the federal govt's basic functions and key personnel do not do a very good job of staying current.

So, maybe our conversation may have to focus on why-are-they-doing-this type questions. For that we have to look at the plans and personnel who are running the show. The links below focus on some of that/them. They also list the big MAGA targets in the federal govt so far - the priorities we can be sure about. Finally, remember that the principal purpose of this presidency is not to destroy govt but to seize power over it. Many key agencies are therefore, not much smaller, just captured (DOJ, FBI, IRS).

Optional Backgrounders –
· The Architect of Dismantling the U.S. Government (and main author of Project 2025): Russell Vought. Recommended.
· Priority: Get total control of all independent agencies. (SCOTUS ruled he could, except the Federal Reserve.)
· February: The first round of mass layoffs got about 300,000 federal workers.
· May-June, his budget proposed to…:
-- Increase defense spending by 13% and cut all other discretionary spending (excludes SS, MC, + a few big others) by 22%.
-- Eliminate 46 programs. Note Trump claims the right to do anything whether Congress passes a budget or not.
· July: More, from this list of "harmful” actions includes abolishing USAID and Education Dept, and special efforts to cut science and environmental functions like at EPA, NIH, etc.

• Totals so far! Recommended.