After the embarrassing election for legacy media and polling companies, the losers have grabbed onto a word that in itself highlights their loss of political dignity. The talking points went out in the Democrat milieu and the word put forth is overreach. All they could come up with was that Trump won so bigly that now he going to overreach. However, one man’s overreach and another man’s mandate.

Dismantling the administrative state in Washington, D.C., is a complex and often feared idea for the left that is rooted in a desire to curb what Republicans view as an overgrown federal bureaucracy. The concept, championed by MAGA Republicans, calls for reducing the scope and power of federal agencies, particularly those involved in regulation and policymaking. The right argues that these agencies, which together make up the “administrative state,” wield too much influence and operate with little accountability, effectively making policy without direct input from elected officials. They contend that such power should lie with Congress or state and local governments, closer to the people they represent.

The administrative state has its roots in the Progressive Era when the United States government began expanding its role to address the challenges of an industrialized economy. Over time, especially during the New Deal and the Great Society programs, federal agencies grew both in number and authority to manage the complexities of a modern economy and society.

These agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)—create and enforce rules that affect nearly every aspect of American life. They often have specialized expertise in fields like environmental protection, finance, and telecommunications, allowing them to respond quickly to developments in their respective domains.

However, Republicans argue that this expansion has led to an undemocratic concentration of power abused by the left. The administrative state operates through appointed officials and career bureaucrats rather than elected representatives. Because Congress often delegates broad regulatory powers to these agencies, critics argue that unelected bureaucrats make crucial policy decisions without sufficient oversight.

This delegation can undermine democratic principles, as agencies may prioritize their own agendas or be influenced by special interests rather than the public’s will. Supporters of dismantling the administrative state often claim it stifles economic growth through burdensome regulations, discourages innovation, and imposes high compliance costs on businesses and individuals. Over time this has proven to be anti-American and destructive.

A key component of dismantling the administrative state involves repealing or amending laws that grant agencies broad discretion in rulemaking. For example, the REINS Act (Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny) is a proposal that would require Congress to approve major regulations before they take effect. Republicans argue that such laws would restore accountability by ensuring that significant regulations receive direct approval from elected representatives. Another approach is to reduce the size and funding of agencies, forcing them to scale back their regulatory activities. Republicans argue that dismantling the administrative state could lead to greater inefficiency.

Overall, dismantling the administrative state involves a delicate balance between curtailing federal power and ensuring essential services and protections remain intact. The debate over this issue reflects broader tensions about federalism, accountability, and the proper role of government in Americans’ lives. While some see it as a means to empower citizens and local governments, Democrats fear it would lead to chaos and undercut necessary protections.

The future of the administrative state remains a contentious and unresolved issue at the core of American politics and the key focus of MAGA Republicans coming into power. The Democrats will call all this overreach, and the Republicans will call it their mandate to dismantle the administrative state. The talking point of Democrats and their media using the term “overreach” shows indefatigably that the left still does not understand their loss in the 2024 presidential election and probably never will.

C. Rich

CRich@AmericaSpeaksInk.com

C. Rich

C. Rich is the voice behind America Speaks Ink, home to the America First Movement. As an author, poet, freelance ghostwriter, and blogger, C. Rich brings a “baked-in” perspective shaped by growing up on the streets and beaches of South Florida in the 1970s-1980s and brings a quintessential Generation-X point of view.

Rich’s writing journey began in 2008 with coverage of the Casey Anthony trial and has since evolved into a wide-ranging exploration of politics, culture, and the issues that define our times. Follow C. Rich’s writing odyssey here at America Speaks Ink and on Amazon with a four-book series on Donald Trump called “Trump Era: The MAGA Files” and many other books and subjects C. Rich is known to cover.

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