Biden Administration Sets Up Defenses Against Trump's Government Reshaping Plans

Former President Donald Trump has outlined an ambitious agenda to transform the federal government should he regain the presidency, aiming to dismiss numerous federal employees, dismantle certain agencies, and instigate mass deportation of undocumented immigrants.

Loyal Employees

The plan also included firing thousands of government workers and replacing them with Trump loyalists.

Support for Biden

In anticipation, various liberal factions, legal advisers, and advocacy organizations are throwing their support behind President Joe Biden and expressing confidence in Trump’s defeat.

Safeguarding Legislative Achievements

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They are proactively setting up roadblocks to counteract Trump’s potential policies by advocating for new regulations that would curb the power of the presidency and safeguard Biden’s legislative achievements.

Silent Battle

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The diverse group is pushing for implementing federal rules to diminish presidential authority, paralleling the conservative initiative “Project 2025” that seeks to establish a ready-to-go conservative administration.

Strengthening Worker Protections

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is playing a key role by proposing a regulation to prevent the easy dismissal of thousands of federal employees.

Future Administration Challenge

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As per OPM spokesperson Viet Tran, the office intends to conclude the rule in April, which implies that any subsequent administration would probably need to invest months, or even years, to dismantle it if they desire to do so.

Acknowledging Threats

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Michael Linden, a former executive associate director at the White House Office of Management and Budget, acknowledges the efforts by the Biden administration to mitigate potential official firing threats.

No Magic Bullet

However, he acknowledged that there was no “magic bullet” to prevent Trump from taking drastic measures if he assumed office again.

Preventing Future Damage

Linden told the Associated Press, “Nobody should be under any illusion that there’s anything that this president can do in advance to prevent the next president from doing things that are very damaging, potentially catastrophically.”

Authoritarian Governance

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The Biden campaign has expressed concerns over Trump’s indications towards authoritarian governance strategies, including the purging of the civil service.

Dangerous Plans

The campaign stresses that re-electing Biden is crucial to thwarting Trump’s “dangerous and un-American plans.”

Executive Power Limits

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Former President Barack Obama ethics counselor Norm Eisen suggests that Biden could use executive orders to restrict domestic military deployment.

Troops Deployment

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Trump has discussed the possibility of deploying troops to the southern border or to cities governed by Democrats grappling with escalating crime rates.

Core Dispute

At the core of both Trump’s initiatives and the Democratic endeavors to obstruct him lies the determination of how many government employees could be dismissed by a new administration, possibly to be substituted with loyalists.

“Schedule F”

Towards the end of his term, Trump aimed to reclassify thousands of the over 2 million federal employees, removing their job protections and converting them into at-will employees through a new designation termed “Schedule F.”

Expanding Political Appointees

Approximately 4,000 federal employees are currently categorized as political appointees, a group typically undergoing turnover with each new administration. Establishing Schedule F could have potentially increased this number by more than tenfold.

Ordered Overturned

Biden overturned that order, but Trump asserts he will reinstate it if he wins. Meanwhile, conservative groups, armed with comprehensive policy guides, are devising strategies to terminate employees to accommodate more Trump appointees.

Policy Handbook

Last year, Fox News reported that the Heritage Foundation, a prominent conservative think tank, compiled a policy handbook with input from over 50 right-leaning organizations.

“High Priority” Overhaul

The handbook aims to provide an incoming president with a 180-day playbook of policy reforms, including a “high priority” overhaul of the DOJ and FBI. These suggestions are a component of the group’s Project 2025: Presidential Transition Project.

Deep State

Trump has consistently criticized the “deep state” in Washington, referring to the entrenched civil servants and bureaucrats who retain positions of influence regardless of the White House occupant.

“Destroy the Deep State”

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Last year, Trump said, “Either the deep state destroys America or we destroy the deep state.”

Bolstering Rules

Liberal advocates also push for rules that could complicate relocating government agencies. These measures, alongside potential lawsuits and legislative changes, are intended to fortify the government against abrupt policy shifts.

Legislative Responses

In response to challenges faced during Trump’s tenure, Congress has enacted laws to prevent unilateral actions like withdrawing from NATO and has strengthened the Electoral Count Act, ensuring a more robust electoral process.