Daniel Beard, a former commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, is calling on the new Trump administration to disband the agency he once headed, arguing that its functions are outdated and could be handled by other entities.
Beard, who served under President Clinton from 1993 to 1995, suggested that if the administration is serious about trimming federal bureaucracy, the Bureau of Reclamation would be a prime candidate for dissolution.
In his view, Congress continues to maintain the agency solely for political reasons. Beard asserts that private companies or various governmental bodies at the state and local levels could easily take over the Bureau’s responsibilities.
Daniel Beard revisits lean government priorities from his tenure in the 1990s
He has voiced similar sentiments for years, even writing a book in 2015 titled Deadbeat Dams, in which he argues for both the abolishment of the Bureau and the removal of the Glen Canyon Dam. With the Trump administration’s recent plan to create a “Department of Government Efficiency,” Beard is advocating for the elimination of the Bureau of Reclamation as an initial step.
Established in 1902, the Bureau’s mission was to build dams and canals to support settlement in the Western United States through water and power distribution. However, Beard believes that the Bureau’s purpose has long since faded, noting that the agency’s current $1.5 billion budget is an unnecessary expense.
Beard left his role as commissioner in 1995, having restructured the Bureau to prioritize environmental concerns and reduce construction projects. His tenure saw staff reductions and a $100 million budget decrease. At the time, he highlighted the need for a leaner government that minimizes bureaucratic layers, a stance he continues to support.
In a 2015 interview with Colorado Public Radio to promote his book, Beard described the Bureau as “a historic agency with a proud past,” yet emphasized the need to adapt to changing conditions. Since his time with the Bureau, he has also held other government roles, including chief administrative officer of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007 to 2010.
The Bureau, however, still champions its role, describing itself as the country’s largest wholesale water supplier. In a recent fact sheet, it claims to add $34.1 billion to the economy through water management and recreational services. The Bureau supplies irrigation water to around 140,000 farmers in the Western United States, helping to cultivate farmland that produces a particular portion of the country’s fruits, nuts, and vegetables.
Despite these accomplishments, Beard argues that the Bureau’s large water projects and hydroelectric operations have become unnecessary. He calls dams “dinosaurs,” relics of a bygone era, and suggests that solar power, now more affordable and efficient, is a better energy solution.
Beard proposes that the federal government could still assist with water infrastructure projects, but through funding state, regional, or private initiatives, rather than operating a federal agency.
He strongly believes that dismantling the Bureau of Reclamation would be a fitting goal for the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, which he hopes will tackle government redundancies.
