Wichita Standard

Rep. Ron Estes of Kansas recently shared his views on government reform in an op-ed published in The Daily Signal. He emphasized the potential collaboration between the Congressional DOGE Caucus and President-elect Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency to reduce the federal government's size and scope.

"The federal government was designed to be limited in scope, as highlighted in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. But over the years, especially the past 100 years, it grew bigger and bigger, adding more burdens to Americans," Rep. Estes wrote. He expressed optimism about working with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, appointed by Trump to lead these efforts, saying there is "hope that Republicans in Congress will have allies in reforming our government to be leaner and constituent-focused."

Estes highlighted historical perspectives by referencing Ronald Reagan's 1964 speech where he noted that "no government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size." Estes pointed out that recent elections indicated a desire for change toward reducing what he described as a wasteful government.

Entrepreneurs Musk and Ramaswamy have met with House Republicans to discuss ideas for reforming government operations. Estes criticized current administrative policies for increasing tax burdens through unnecessary regulations.

Efforts to curtail federal growth are not new, according to Estes. He mentioned previous legislative attempts like cutting nondefense spending by 1% and passing the REINS Act aimed at establishing a congressional approval process for major rules. However, he noted resistance from Democrats as a challenge.

He illustrated disparities between branches of government employment: "The executive branch employs close to 3 million people... Yet the legislative branch... employs just over 1% of what the executive branch employs."

Estes reiterated Trump's past regulatory reductions during his first term, noting significant rollbacks compared to predecessors' costs: "President Joe Biden’s agency rulemakings have cost the federal taxpayer $1.37 trillion."

Citing recent judicial decisions like Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo which limit agency powers, Estes argued for less bureaucratic influence on law interpretation.

He criticized proposed EPA regulations impacting small meat processors due to high testing costs and has introduced legislation opposing such measures.

Concluding with a nod to Reagan's foresight about governmental persistence, Estes emphasized readiness among colleagues alongside Musk, Ramaswamy, and Trump for substantial reforms after recent electoral outcomes favoring reduced governance footprint.