Posted on 01/01/2020 7:12:31 AM PST by SeekAndFind
One of the promises President Trump made to American voters is that he would shrink the federal government. With the latest announcement that the National Security Council is set to lose as many as 330 people, the President is closing in on that goal.
The National Security Council has been at work in Washington, D.C., since 1947. Congress created it at the beginning of the Cold War to coordinate policy between the various government national security entities, such as the military and the CIA.
President Truman was unenthused, resenting Congress's impingement on his ability to handle foreign affairs. Nevertheless, he accepted its existence and Truman, followed by subsequent presidents, kept manipulating its shape and make-up to help make it a more congenial partner when working with the White House to defend American interests against overseas actors.
In the wake of 9/11, the NSC was reorganized, with a new Director of National Intelligence replacing the head of the CIA at the NSC's helm and taking a place in the President's cabinet. Under President Obama's watch, the NSC grew in size and power, with as many as 450 people assigned to it when he merged the NSC and White House staff supporting the Homeland Security Council into a single National Security Staff.
When President Trump assumed office, he set about again reorganizing the NSC structure and chain of command in significant part to cut down on the number of people mandated to attend various meetings.
President Trump is once again re-working the NSC, this time to bring it in line with his promises to make the federal government smaller and more responsive, as well as to break the flow of sensitive information NSC staff to the media:
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Wow 330 people! Get back with us when whole departments are eliminated.
Now reduce every government department by 10% (for starters). Americans will see no difference in efficiency or effectiveness. At least not a negative difference.
RE: Wow 330 people! Get back with us when whole departments are eliminated.
Can the President simply eliminate a department which was created by law? Can he, with the stroke of a pen, eliminate for instance, the Department of Education?
Downsize, disperse and dilute all departments and agencies. The massive size of the federal government only invites corruption, waste and abuses of power.
His work at the CPB and his plans to relocate Agriculture are also positive.
That’s just the NSC.
Balderdash.
You shrink government by starving the beast. Reduce government budget by 2%* for 5 more years and then talk to us about shrink government.
*Yes it should be higher. Much higher, but the President has limited control over budget.
(side note: the budget for NPR/PBS went up $20 million this year)
No and I was being as ridiculous as this article. No one believes the size of government is getting smaller.
I would think he could make the entire Department of Education disappear with the stroke of a pen. Anyone hear ANYTHING from Betsy DeVos? At least stop the “I identify as...” nonsense.
Move the home office to Antarctica and let anyone who wants to stay move.
One cannot drain the swamp by approving the swamp the largest budget in the history of mankind. Then bragging about it and rubbing it in our face.
Education would be near the top of my list for 100% removal. Others worthy of complete or nearly complete elimination include Director of National Intelligence, Small Business Administration, EPA, Veterans Affairs (put that back in the Department of War), Energy (put nuclear weapons back in the Department of War and get rid of the rest), HUD, HHS, and most or all of the Department of Labor. Get rid of 20% of current employees this year, and cut the same number each of the following four years so that these harmful departments are gone by the time that President Trump finishes his second term.
The rest of FedGov? Cut at least 2% per year from all other departments unless 2/3 of the House and the Senate approve maintaining their numbers - no increases. That includes our military, which I love but it should be streamlined to improve the "tooth to tail" ratio. That includes State and FBI, where political and politicized positions need to be phased out rapidly. That certainly includes BATFE, where all federal firearms laws except protections for manufacturers and dealers need to be eliminated. We have far too much government, and shrinking that cancer should be among our highest priorities.
The GOP had a shot of restoring our Republic the first two Years of POTUS Trump’s Administration.
Imagine where we would be if they did the work.
Sorry, there will never be another chance. At best we hold back the Progressive Hordes until January 2025 IF Trump wins Reelection, we can retain the Senate and win back the House.
I am not as optimistic as many here that the GOP will prevail next November. At best I’m at the Trust but Verify stage. In the words of Han Solo, don’t get cocky Kid.
RE: Education would be near the top of my list for 100% removal.
Yes, but the Department was CREATED BY LAW. The President can only execute the law, he cannot CHANGE the law. This is an act that Congress should pass.
Uh, the budget has routinely increased since Andrew Jackson.
0 is one person too many for this corrupt pile of bs
Congress should pass that law. Meanwhile, the President of the United States should do whatever he can within the law (using his “pen and a phone”) to shrink those departments. Perhaps a hiring slowdown, with a limit of one new hire for every three or four departures would be a nice start.
“Now reduce every government department by 10% (for starters). Americans will see no difference in efficiency or effectiveness. At least not a negative difference.”
I agree 100%. During my business career I observed several corporate downsizings, usually driven by new CEO’s. Most were at least 10%. In all cases productivity improved:
1) The people cut were generally unproductive or troublemakers.
2) With fewer employees executives and managers were forced to do a better job of evaluating and prioritizing work. Unnecessary projects and unproductive programs were cut.
3) Fear is a great motivator. Many average employees improved their productivity in order to move out of the target zone for future cutbacks.
4) Managers became better evaluators of people and less tolerant of slack performers.
5) Teamwork improved. Employee peer pressure became directed against associates who did not want to collaborate in achieving corporate objectives.
6) Executives became focused on improving working conditions and morale.
Corporate America went through waves of downsizing during the 1980’s, 1990’s, and 2000’s. The federal bureaucracy was never downsized, despite the widespread adoption of productivity improving technology (personal computer, internet). Likely the government could absorb a 20-25% cut without an impact.
Cutting must include the contractors infesting every department.
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