(WASHINGTON) — Building on a key part of his pitch to conservative voters, Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said during a speech in the nation’s capital on Wednesday that he wants to cut the federal workforce by 75% — in part by dismantling the government.
Ramaswamy argued that if elected, he would use the “executive authority to shut down redundant federal agencies and to reorganize the federal government accordingly.”
Flanked by poster boards detailing his plans, Ramaswamy described his vision to reconfigure the federal government, saying he was debunking the “myths” that have been told by “members of the bureaucracy” about what the president can do when it comes to restructuring the government.
Some agencies the entrepreneur would want to target include the FBI, the Department of Education, the Department of Commerce, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the IRS.
Ramaswamy’s pitch would likely face an uphill battle with many legal obstacles and pushback from federal agencies.
Ramaswamy has seen a rise in national interest since his performance at the first GOP presidential primary debate, where other presidential hopefuls targeted him on the debate stage.
Although other presidential candidates have talked about cutting the number of federal employees, Ramaswamy’s plans go further than any other presidential candidate. Still, he says Americans have previously taken “radical actions” regarding politics and government.
“I think we have to be honest with ourselves, that America was not founded on moderate ideals. America was founded on radical ideals, that idea that you get to speak your mind…”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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