The imminent return of President-elect Donald Trump to the White House presents a rare and crucial chance to either tame or dismantle the bloated federal bureaucracy. This is an opportunity that should not be squandered, especially with the Democrats having done nothing but expand government control and waste taxpayer money.
Last month, Trump took decisive action by enlisting Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X, and Vivek Ramaswamy, former Republican presidential candidate, to spearhead the “Department of Government Efficiency.” This new temporary agency is tasked with rooting out government waste—something the Democrats have long ignored in favor of their own agendas.
On Thursday, in a move that embodies true collaboration and self-governance, the DOGE account on X reached out to users for ideas on how to slash through the dense jungle of federal regulations.
DOGE announced its commitment to a “serious analysis of wasteful and burdensome regulations,” seeking “public feedback” and instructed for users to direct message them “the CFR provision, the relevant text from the regulation, and the adverse consequences of said regulation.”
DOGE is undergoing a serious analysis of wasteful and burdensome regulations, and is looking for public feedback!
Which are the really bad ones? Please DM us the CFR provision, the relevant text from the regulation, and the adverse consequences of said regulation.
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) December 12, 2024
However, this request for feedback was not an open invitation for general complaints. Instead, it called for specific details from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), including “relevant text” and “adverse consequences.”
Musk and Ramaswamy encouraged X users to channel their inner Ron Swanson, the Libertarian local government employee from NBC’s sitcom “Parks and Recreation.”
“Slash it! Slash it!” Swanson humorously chanted in one memorable episode where he eagerly embraced his role on a budget task force, advocating for massive cuts to local government spending.
Many X users struggled with the specific assignment, as most failed to include CFR specifics. But nearly all approached the task with Swanson-like enthusiasm.
“Think BIG!” one user exclaimed, advocating not only for dismantling the current administrative state but also requiring Congressional approval for any major new regulations.
Think BIG! Trump’s legacy could be dismantling the administrative state’s power by permanently requiring, once he has repealed the bad ones, that major NEW federal regulations be approved by Congress, not dictated by intimidating bureaucrats. Check out the “Regulation Freedom”…
— The Keep Nine Amendment (@Keep9Amendment) December 13, 2024
Another user accused the Environmental Protection Agency of rampant corruption.
“Who’s idea was it that the EPA is so involved in building? It’s like they keep the minerals a secret for themselves,” they wrote.
DOGE is undergoing a serious analysis of wasteful and burdensome regulations, and is looking for public feedback!
Which are the really bad ones? Please DM us the CFR provision, the relevant text from the regulation, and the adverse consequences of said regulation.
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) December 12, 2024
Fortunately, some users did provide specific CFR details. These included regulations on farming and security purchases.
One user, clearly a Swanson fan, urged DOGE to “cut everything.” Then force advocates of these slashed regulations or agencies to justify their existence.
The post from DOGE had more than 36 million views by Friday afternoon—a testament to its resonance with those fed up with bureaucratic overreach.
Readers can contribute their suggestions by simply using an X account. However, remember Musk and Ramaswamy sought specific CFR recommendations. If you have those details ready, you can proudly claim you’re helping drain the Swamp!