CONTINUING THE REDUCTION OF THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY

​On March 14, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order titled "Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy," aiming to streamline government operations by eliminating non-essential components and functions within several federal entities. ​The White House

Key Provisions of the Executive Order:

• Targeted Agencies: The order directs the reduction of non-statutory functions and associated personnel in the following entities:​Economic Policy Institute

  • Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service​The White House+1Wikipedia+1

  • United States Agency for Global Media​The White House+1Wikipedia+1

  • Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars​The White House+1The Guardian+1

  • Institute of Museum and Library Services​FedScoop+4The White House+4American Alliance of Museums+4

  • United States Interagency Council on Homelessness​The White House

  • Community Development Financial Institutions Fund​The White House

  • Minority Business Development Agency​AP News+3The White House+3U.S. Office of Personnel Management+3

• Reporting Requirements: Within seven days of the order, the heads of these agencies must submit reports to the Office of Management and Budget detailing which functions are legally mandated and to what extent.​

• Budgetary Implications: Future funding requests from these agencies will be scrutinized and potentially rejected if they do not align with the order's directives.​

Reactions and Implications:

• Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS): The American Alliance of Museums expressed concern over the cuts to IMLS, noting that the agency operates on a minimal budget yet provides critical resources to libraries and museums nationwide. ​American Alliance of Museums

• U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM): The order mandates the elimination of non-statutory functions within USAGM, which oversees entities like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Critics argue that reducing USAGM's scope could diminish U.S. influence abroad. ​Wikipedia

• Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund: The administration's decision to cut funding for the CDFI Fund has faced bipartisan criticism. Lawmakers argue that such cuts could adversely affect small businesses in underserved areas, potentially hindering economic growth in those communities. ​

This executive order represents a continuation of the administration's efforts to reduce the size of the federal government by eliminating what it considers unnecessary functions, thereby aiming to increase efficiency and reduce taxpayer burden.​Federal Register

Federal Bureaucracy Reduction Initiatives Under the Trump Administration

Reuters

U.S. homeland department targets oversight in government cuts

Yesterday

AP News

Homeland Security makes cuts to offices overseeing civil rights protections

Yesterday

Axios

Tracking Trump: Education Dept. demise as key agenda items get blocked in court

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Sources

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1.  Purpose.  This order continues the reduction in the elements of the Federal bureaucracy that the President has determined are unnecessary.

Sec. 2.  Reducing the Scope of the Federal Bureaucracy.
(a)  Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the non-statutory components and functions of the following governmental entities shall be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, and such entities shall reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law:
(i)    the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service;
(ii)   the United States Agency for Global Media;
(iii)  the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution;
(iv)   the Institute of Museum and Library Services;
(v)    the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness;
(vi)   the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund; and
(vii)  the Minority Business Development Agency.
(b)  Within 7 days of the date of this order, the head of each governmental entity listed in subsection (a) of this section shall submit a report to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget confirming full compliance with this order and explaining which components or functions of the governmental entity, if any, are statutorily required and to what extent.
(c)  In reviewing budget requests submitted by the governmental entities listed in subsection (a) of this section, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget or the head of any executive department or agency charged with reviewing grant requests by such entities shall, to the extent consistent with applicable law and except insofar as necessary to effectuate an expected termination, reject funding requests for such governmental entities to the extent they are inconsistent with this order.

 Sec. 3.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or  the head thereof; or
(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.



THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 14, 2025.