Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy
- Foreign Policy
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- Labor
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- Justice
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This executive order directs the continued reduction of the federal bureaucracy by eliminating or significantly downsizing several governmental entities.
The order targets specific agencies, including the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the US Agency for Global Media, and others, instructing agency heads to submit reports detailing compliance within seven days.
Funding requests deemed inconsistent with the order's goals are to be rejected, while existing legal authorities are preserved.
The order explicitly states it does not create any legally enforceable rights.
Arguments For
Intended Benefits: Streamlining the federal government, reducing costs, and improving efficiency by eliminating unnecessary agencies and functions.
Evidence Cited: The President's determination that certain elements of the federal bureaucracy are unnecessary (though not explicitly detailed in this order).
Implementation Methods: Elimination of non-statutory components and functions of specified entities, reduction of statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum legally-required level, and rejection of inconsistent funding requests.
Legal/Historical Basis: Authority vested in the President by the Constitution and laws of the United States.
Arguments Against
Potential Impacts: Disruption of services provided by the targeted entities, potential job losses, and possible negative effects on the specific policy areas addressed by those entities (e.g., labor relations, global media).
Implementation Challenges: Determining which components and functions are truly “unnecessary” and complying with applicable laws during agency downsizing and elimination.
Alternative Approaches: Gradual restructuring of agencies rather than abrupt elimination, exploring alternative means of cost reduction before eliminating entire bodies, improving inter-agency cooperation to reduce redundancies.
Unintended Effects: The order may create unintended consequences by weakening government functions considered crucial by some stakeholders. Elimination might not result in significant cost savings or efficiency improvements and could lead to the loss of valued expertise.
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
This opening statement establishes the legal authority for the executive order, stating it's issued under the President's constitutional and legal powers.
Section 1. Purpose. This order continues the reduction in the elements of the Federal bureaucracy that the President has determined are unnecessary.
The purpose of this order is to continue reducing the size of the Federal government by eliminating what the President considers to be nonessential agencies and functions.
This indicates a pre-existing policy of downsizing the bureaucracy initiated prior to this order's enactment.
Sec. 2. Reducing the Scope of the Federal Bureaucracy. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the non-statutory components and functions of the following governmental entities shall be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, and such entities shall reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law: (i) the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service; (ii) the United States Agency for Global Media; (iii) the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution; (iv) the Institute of Museum and Library Services; (v) the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness; (vi) the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund; and (vii) the Minority Business Development Agency. (b) Within 7 days of the date of this order, the head of each governmental entity listed in subsection (a) of this section shall submit a report to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget confirming full compliance with this order and explaining which components or functions of the governmental entity, if any, are statutorily required and to what extent. (c) In reviewing budget requests submitted by the governmental entities listed in subsection (a) of this section, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget or the head of any executive department or agency charged with reviewing grant requests by such entities shall, to the extent consistent with applicable law and except insofar as necessary to effectuate an expected termination, reject funding requests for such governmental entities to the extent they are inconsistent with this order.
This section details the specific actions to reduce the federal bureaucracy.
Subsection (a) lists seven governmental entities whose non-statutory components and functions will be eliminated, and whose statutory functions and staff will be minimized.
Subsection (b) requires these entities to report on their compliance within seven days.
Subsection (c) directs budget review officials to reject any funding requests inconsistent with these actions.
Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
This section addresses caveats and limitations.
Subsection (a) clarifies that the order does not affect existing legal authority or the OMB's budgetary functions.
Subsection (b) states implementation is dependent on laws and available funds.
Subsection (c) is a standard legal clause specifying that the order itself cannot be used to initiate legal action against the federal government.
THE WHITE HOUSE, March 14, 2025.
This indicates the date and location of the order's issuance.