Democrats on Capitol Hill are urging the White House to take proactive measures to safeguard federal agencies from President-elect Trump’s planned overhaul, which includes dismantling these agencies to suit his preferences.
The lawmakers are advocating for aggressive and creative unilateral actions during the final weeks of President Biden’s administration, aiming to protect Democratic policy achievements while reinforcing the Justice Department, intelligence agencies, and other offices targeted by Trump.
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) emphasized the importance of preparation, stating that the Biden administration must anticipate these challenges and develop plans accordingly. He warned against political missteps, stressing that failure to act could lead to consequences.
Rep. Jared Huffman stresses the need for careful planning to counter Trump’s dismantling of key agencies
With Republicans controlling the House, Democrats believe that Biden must act preemptively to prevent Trump from eroding their legislative successes and executing his proposed deep state purge, which seeks to streamline government and eliminate Trump administration critics.
Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.) shared his long-standing belief that much can be accomplished in a lame-duck session, and the urgency of the situation is apparent with reports that Trump plans to remove so-called “woke” generals from the Pentagon.
The situation escalated further with Trump’s selections for key positions, including former Rep. Matt Gaetz as U.S. attorney general and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence. These figures have made clear their intention to overhaul the agencies under their jurisdiction.
Additionally, Trump has proposed the creation of a “Department of Government Efficiency,” which would be led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. The new department aims to eliminate government inefficiencies, reduce regulations, and restructure federal agencies.
For many Democrats, these goals represent an alarming misuse of power to advance personal interests, prompting them to seek various strategies to combat this potential agenda.
To counter these efforts, some Democrats are pushing for a wide range of measures. They suggest that Biden should ramp up executive orders, finalize critical regulations, and expedite funding for federal projects that Congress has already approved. While they acknowledge the varying effectiveness of these strategies, they agree that a broad approach is necessary given the threat posed by Trump’s impending return.
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) proposed an adjustment to union contracts for federal employees to shield them from any purge under Trump’s administration. Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, advocated for seating as many Biden-appointed federal judges as possible before the end of the term and taking action to protect military leaders Trump might remove from the Pentagon. He warned that Trump’s purges would harm national security.
The issue of Ukraine aid is also a priority for Democrats, particularly since Trump has expressed reluctance to provide further military support to Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. R
ep. John B. Larson (D-Conn.) called for immediate action to release already approved aid to Ukraine, while other Democrats urged Biden to allocate funds for other critical projects, such as those under the infrastructure and Inflation Reduction Acts, before Trump has the chance to undo these measures.
Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.) raised concerns about the future of federal lands under a potential Trump administration, advocating for protections to prevent exploitation for oil, gas, and mining. He urged Biden to protect as much land as possible from these threats in the remaining months of his term.
Despite the urgency, there are limits to Biden’s ability to act, particularly with Republicans in control of the House and the time constraints of a lame-duck session. Many of the executive orders Biden issues could be swiftly reversed by Trump once he assumes office, as Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) pointed out, recalling Biden’s own efforts to undo Trump’s executive actions upon entering office in 2021.
Beyer suggested that Biden’s administration might still consider issuing executive orders to set a clear contrast between the parties on issues like worker protections, even if those actions are short-lived.
