Vivek Ramaswamy Pledges To 'Delete' Entire Government Agencies Alongside Elon Musk

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Huff Post

Nov 17, 2024, 06:00 PM EST


Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who has been named to lead President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency alongside tech billionaire Elon Musk, promised Sunday that many government agencies will soon be “deleted.”

“Elon and I aren’t in this for the credit,” Ramaswamy said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.” “But I think we’re going to build the consensus to make the kind of deep cuts that haven’t been made for most of our history.” After host Maria Bartiromo questioned whether the two plan to “close down entire agencies,” Ramaswamy said “mass reductions” will be made.

“We expect certain agencies to be deleted outright,” he said. “We expect mass reductions in force in areas of the federal government that are bloated. We expect massive cuts among federal contractors and others who are overbilling the federal government.”

Ramaswamy added, “I think people will be surprised by how quickly we’re able to move with some of those changes, given the legal backdrop the Supreme Court has given us.”

Read more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/vivek-ramaswamy-elon-musk-delete-government-agencies_n_673a5d9de4b0ebe12e367050

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As a note, the Legislative Branch (Congress) creates and authorizes funding for Departments and Agencies, NOT the Executive Branch.

[Mike Nelson]

1. So...

... government agencies not alongside Elon are safe! Start deleting Vivek!

[Initech]

34. Nothing of value would be lost there!

Fuck Elon and Vivek and their stupid DOGE agency!

[BoRaGard]

2. It's so cool to be a republicon billionaire bro!

And to merrily shitcan honest Americans by the thousands,
and ensure more Tax Cuts for yourself and other G.O.P. billionaire bros!

[Walleye]

3. Elon and Vivek, it's not your money keep your hands off it. It's ours.

[Doodley]

4. This is a key part of Project 2025. Here's a list of the damage planned:

Eliminate up to a million federal jobs and gut federal workers’ pay and benefits.

Under Project 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would be eliminated, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) would be privatized. DHS and TSA were created in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks to coordinate our national security efforts, facilitate intelligence sharing, and prevent another terrorist attack. Both agencies have done an amazing job protecting our homeland. Bringing our country back to the pre-9/11 era is not only irresponsible but also puts all of us at risk.

The Department of Education would be eliminated and oversight of education and federal funding for education will be handed over to the states. Also being gutted are regulations prohibiting sex-based discrimination in schools and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would be eliminated and moved to the Department of Interior or the Department of Transportation if combined with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The costs of disaster preparedness and response would be shifted to states and local governments.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s many regional labs and entire offices of enforcement and compliance and scientific integrity and risk information would be eliminated. This will endanger public health by giving corporations and big businesses a greenlight to pollute the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is to “privatize as much as possible” and close many hospitals and clinics. This will hurt veterans who rely on the VA’s expertise on illnesses unique to veterans. Veterans will also be talking to robots or chat bots instead of a live person when much of the Veterans Benefits Administration is automated.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) would be taken apart and send much of its work to states and other agencies – bad news for low income and working-class families who rely on its meagre assistance.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) would lose its independence and be under control of the President. They believe that DOJ decisions should “always be consistent with the President’s policy agenda and the rule of law.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would be drastically reduced and split into two entities: one gathering scientific data and one making public health recommendations and policies. Breaking up the CDC could hinder its ability to prevent and mitigate an outbreak. The CDC would also privatize all test development and laboratory functions and focus on providing guidance in these areas instead of “competing with the private sector.” They would move CDC’s data infrastructure and management to a public-private partnership, causing the government to lose ownership and control of the data

https://www.afge.org/article/project-2025-seeks-to-dismantle-agencies-terminate-up-to-1-million-federal-workers/

[lonely bird]

10. While the list is a classic example of stupidity it does show something interesting

The process of turning a lot of the responsibility over to states would do two things:

The United States would run the risk of losing reserve currency status which would be calamitous for the country. The rest of the world would see confirmed the fear that the U.S. government is run by children.

States forced to deal with what had been federal programs would either go bankrupt or have to severely increase taxes. In red states those taxes would fall on the backs of people who can least afford it.

[Strelnikov_]

17. Reserve currency seems to be getting missed

Although dollar holdings have been dropping since the first go round, the dollar is still strong.

Another factor, imho, is the willingness to invest, recycle so to speak, in the US. Those dollars have to come back somehow. Having been a nation of laws, up until now, investment in the US was a safe bet.

Putin has been trying to break ‘dollar hegemony’ for decades. Looks like he may succeed.

[Strelnikov_]

19. And yes, the deep red states are going to get

a major lesson in FAFO.

Another thing, related, that seems to be getting missed is all of the State Govt jobs in these deep red states that depend on Federal funds. Delegated authority.

[peregrinus]

24. Mississippi and Alabama will simply return to a plantation economy

[Doodley]

37. In the case of natural disasters, states need Federal support. Yes, they could be bankrupted from one bad hurricane.

[keep_left]

33. That last item in the list (the CDC) is also about privatizing the data...

...so that the American public (and the academic world) gets double-billed: once for the data to be collected, and again each time the data is accessed. This is exactly what Rick Santorum was trying to do with NOAA and the National Weather Service. In fact, one of Santorum's big funders was the founder of a private weather company who wanted to lock up the data so he could own it exclusively.

[Doodley]

38. It's an oligarch's bounty. Many billionaires will be laughing at us all, all the way to the bank.

[Initech]

35. This is going to sink the US into a dark age it might not ever recover from.

Fuck the Heritage Foundation. They are the enemy from within. They can go shove Project 2025 straight up their stupid authoritarian asses!

[Doodley]

39. It's grim, unless you are a billionaire obsessed with power and making even more money.

[Initech]

43. The 700 billionaires are an even bigger threat.

May all go shove their precious billions where it doesn't shine.

[tetedur]

5. I'd be willing to wager they won't be cutting Spacex funds.

[liberalgunwilltravel]

13. Not so sure

Musk has been in the limelight an awful lot lately, and Trump doesn’t like that. Musk could be tossed off the Trump train soon.

[tetedur]

16. Oh you know that's coming! I can hardly wait!

[Strelnikov_]

20. Musk could patient zero of FAFO contagion n/t

[Eugene]

30. Eloon wants his people installed at key DoD posts.

Other reports have SpaceX usurping much of Boeing's government work,
including cancellation of SLS.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. Two-headed snake will never want to be confirmed, so it's a bag on the side of the machine

to Tracy Kidder

Vivek and Elmo don't have much interest or time to be confirmed, Elmo less so than Vivek who has run for high political office. It's not a real department, they will only have the power of the bully pulpit and trying to be the last one to talk to tRump before a decision. Those two powers are not inconsiderable.

But also there is the conundrum of the two-head snake. Is Vivek just going to be a lap dog to Elmo or is he going to try to pull rank as the one who is more politically experienced. Who will really be in charge? Who will try to claim credit? Diumverates rarely work.

[liberalgunwilltravel]

12. Trump doesn't share the stage

Last edited Mon Nov 18, 2024, 11:27 AM - Edit history (1)

Musk won’t be on Team Trump much longer. He’s already made himself too visible and has outwardly contradicted Dotard. I suspect that the media hound Vivek will be in the same boat soon enough. That won’t save us from disaster, but it’s a start.

[Intractable]

7. I heard there's this new "Department of Government Efficiency" that if it gets deleted, it will result in savings ...

to everyone's sanity.

The only things this department produces are press releases and interviews.

[2naSalit]

8. Smarmymouth...

Needs to be put in his place, a flaming dumpster rolling toward a tall cliff.

[LymphocyteLover]

9. I don't think they can do this. Their arrogance only exceeds their stupidity

[liberalgunwilltravel]

11. It's time

It’s time to delete Vivek and Elon, entirely.

[Marthe48]

14. Here's what rwnj jobs are getting

Except, Americans can't defer the effect of this amatuerish gang of thugs

[BumRushDaShow]

18. LOL

That prompted me to wonder whatever happened to "DOUBLE A (honk honk) M-C-O" and I just discovered that the original company was founded right here in Philly... And then just learned that "MAACO" auto repair was a spin-off (from one of the original partners). Now AAMCO is rolled in with Cottman Transmission, as a merger to form some other entity.

Meanwhile, back in the day -

[Vinca]

15. Who needs NOAA anyway? Let the hurricanes be a big surprise!

[Zambero]

21. Nothing that a sharpie can't fix!

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

41. Who needs NOAA when Trump's got his Sharpie?

"Nobody knows more about weather than I do."

"Hurricanes are a woke conspiracy. I'm going to round up all the hurricanes and put them in a concentration camp."

"Windmills will be banned to protect the whales. Japan will be allowed to hunt whales again.."

[Javaman]

22. both are drunk on non-power.

all the best they can do is give a strong opinion.

other than that, they can't do anything.

[ancianita]

42. LOL. Absolutely. They don't occupy any existing cabinet post, so all they can do is recommend.

[Javaman]

44. part of me thinks the orange asshole did this to keep them on a short leash. nt

[electron_blue]

23. and funnel all that money to the billionaires

$$$

Notice how you never hear about how much the avg taxpayer will save on taxes after they are done?

[Owens]

25. That will help the MAGA unemployment numbers and bankruptcies and homelessness go through the sky

Bet he has about 5 personal employees doing his daily stuff and a cook.

[Irish_Dem]

26. Congress will roll over.

[Emrys]

27. Since he and Musk seem to have fuck all idea how their new "department" relates to government,

it doesn't give much confidence in their understanding of the various agencies and the complications involved in "deleting" them and the consequences of doing so.

[kansasobama]

28. Majority of voters voted against Trump

So, get lost.

[snowybirdie]

29. As my late father in law

Used to say, "who's we? Do you have a mouse in your pocket?"

[bedazzled]

36. I think i would have liked hm!

Made me laugh and that's not easy anymore. Thanks!

[snowybirdie]

40. He was a

special character. Miss him

[RobinA]

31. I'm Betting That

once these dopes learn the full story of what some of these agencies do, rumors of deleting them will be few and far between.

[Avalon Sparks]

46. And the people running them

Aren’t going to roll over nicely.

[City Lights]

32. They should start with the Executive Branch.

It would immediately make quite an improvement.

[GPV]

45. Can't wait to get started

[Deminpenn]

47. Getting rid of contractors, especially in DoD,

is ok by me. I've seen and dealt with too many military and civil servants who "retire on Friday and return on Monday" in the same or similar job. Been on many conference calls where I was nearly the only one who was a professional federal civil servant. Got many calls from contractors working for our HQ command to provide data or information that the contractor passed along to whoever they worked for when that person could have just as easily contacted me directly, no middleman needed.