Staff Reports
In a bold move that has conservatives rubbing their hands together in anticipation, former President Donald Trump recently unveiled his plan to trim the fat from the bloated federal government by establishing a Government Efficiency Commission. This initiative is reminiscent of proposals from Tesla tycoon Elon Musk, who has been vocal about the need for greater accountability. Trump made the announcement during a speech at the Economic Club of New York, leaving many wondering if he had taken a page out of Musk’s playbook or if the two are just sharing a grand vision for a leaner federal machine.
The primary objective of this commission will be to undertake a comprehensive audit of federal finances and performance. Trump is determined to root out waste and fraud within the government, claiming that this initiative could lead to savings in the trillions. Of course, when Trump says “massive savings,” it’s hard not to imagine him fiddling with imaginary stacks of cash while declaring a war on inefficiency. Someone needs to remind Washington that money doesn’t grow on trees and is better spent on American priorities than frivolous expenses.
NOW – #Trump says he will create a "government efficiency commission," possibly headed by Elon Musk, "for drastic reforms" of the entire U.S. federal government. pic.twitter.com/E2csHkKx1a
— Cary Q. Lyle (@recpark5306) September 5, 2024
This new commission is part of a broader Republican campaign aimed at dismantling the excessive regulatory schemes and bureaucratic hurdles that have swelled under President Biden. Republicans have been vocal critics of the current administration’s tendency to sidestep Congress in favor of rulemaking. There’s nothing quite as polluting to liberty and market conditions as a federal agency reaching for its regulation tool and applying it liberally while bypassing the needs of the American people.
Trump’s regulatory ambitions aren’t just about slicing bureaucracy; he’s also looking to go nuclear on it. While he previously championed the elimination of two regulations for every one enacted, he’s now suggesting a jaw-dropping target of a 10-to-1 ratio. That’s right, folks—if anyone can figure out how to get the government off American businesses’ backs, it’s the man who famously boasted about flushing the swamp clean.
In parallel to this, the GOP isn’t sitting on its laurels in Congress either. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer is pushing for the Sunset Act, which would require major federal rules to expire after a decade unless Congress decides to renew them. This act is as refreshing as a cold drink on a hot summer day, designed to challenge the bureaucratic behemoths that plow ahead with regulations long after they’ve stopped making sense.
Rep. Kat Cammack isn’t just standing by either; she has introduced the REINS Act. This proposal insists that before any major rule is set in stone, it must pass through the gauntlet of both houses of Congress. Under this plan, any regulation projected to exceed an annual economic fallout of $100 million or adversely affect consumer prices or employment would require a Congressional stamp of approval. It seems that the Republican strategy is clear: strip power from the executive and hand it back to Congress where it belongs, all while making the government run more efficiently.
