Since courts can halt executive actions, Congress needs to cut funding. However, Republicans rejected that idea, leaving the Justice Department and FBI unchanged, and still equipped with the same tools that Democrats could use again.
This disconnection between what’s said and what’s done poses a real threat to the promises made by President Trump. Back in March 2023, he asserted, “I will take revenge on those who have been wronged and betrayed,” pledging to “eradicate the deep state” and dismiss bureaucrats who misuse federal law enforcement as political instruments. Those statements carry weight, but their impact hinges on whether action follows.
If Republicans keep funding the Justice Department and FBI they claim to oppose, then Trump’s promise of “retaliation” will merely turn into another campaign chant.
Moreover, if Trump relies only on executive power, courts will likely block significant initiatives, and Democrats in the White House could reverse whatever changes he makes. True structural changes entrenched in law are essential to avert further weaponization of these agencies.
This reality particularly burdens the Justice Department and the FBI. Congress continues to fund these agencies under the Biden administration, thus perpetuating the machinery of weaponization.
Interestingly, Republicans recently passed a judicial funding bill, which garnered more support from Democrats than conservatives.
This pattern has controlled the Republican Congress since 2017, enabling leaders to pass budget bills with less friction from Democrats than from their own party. Spending battles are fierce. If one’s camp is more opposed to a funding bill than the other camp, substantial change remains elusive. The status quo persists.
The uncomfortable fact is that Congress has not made meaningful changes to thwart the weaponization of the Justice Department or to rein in the FBI’s broad authority. Deep state figures involved in the January 6th abuses, the prosecution of pro-life activists under the FACE Act, and FBI operations like Arctic Frost continue to draw salaries.
Republicans had a final opportunity to trim these institutions before it becomes likely that Democrats regain control of the House. The last spending bill for the Justice Department could have eliminated funding for the most abusive programs and permanently limited the Justice Department’s ability to target citizens. Instead, they opted for a bill that essentially legitimizes Biden’s Justice Department.
The voting breakdown starkly illustrates the situation. Nearly all House Democrats backed the funding package, which includes year-round support for the Justice Department, while 22 House conservatives opposed it.
A substantial amount of this package consisted of spending bills related to Commerce, Justice, and Science, as well as energy and environmental development. Leadership’s handling of a welfare fraud scandal led to an attempt to mitigate dissent by reallocating $1 million to a Somali-led nonprofit. However, this move didn’t address the fundamental issues of the bill.
Interestingly, Democrats supported the bill despite chastising President Trump as a dictator, likely because it keeps open various tools for the administration. However, it ignored significant issues.
- No funding restrictions for future January 6 prosecutions.
- No bans on the FACE Act that would protect pro-life activists from prosecution.
- No action against the FBI’s overreach in operations like Arctic Frost.
- No funding cuts for sanctuary cities, which jeopardize federal employees while courts counter President Trump’s attempts to punish those cities.
- No elimination of financial support for NGOs aiding undocumented immigrants.
- No steps to remove incentives for states to enforce red flag laws, maintaining a substantial fund that incentivizes wrong state policies.
- No funding cuts to agencies enforcing gun regulations that are viewed as overreaching.
- Continued funding for the Office of Election Integrity, which oversees initiatives tied to election integrity yet funnels resources into persecuting citizens.
- Funding the Office of the Inspector General with no appointed inspector general overseeing it.
The FBI’s budget remains mostly unchanged from historic highs during Biden’s term. It’s worth noting that the bureau employs more than 35,000 staff, and as of now, only 138 have been let go.
Despite their promises, Republicans have enacted a spending package totaling around $180 billion that disregards the deep cuts suggested by conservatives in committee discussions. This includes over $5.6 billion allotted to more than 3,000 projects, highlighting how leadership appears more interested in facilitating funding than confronting governmental overreach.
Ultimately, Congress holds the real power to alter the government without needing court permissions. That power lies in financial decisions. If Republicans fail to enact transformative legislation, they should at the very least defund damaging policies through spending cuts.
If Republicans continue to subsidize the same Justice Department and FBI they claim to be against, Trump’s suggestions of “retaliation” will merely echo as empty rhetoric. If Democrats agree to fund those very agencies actively targeting Americans, the implications are clear: Washington will not dismantle the system. It will remain in place until Democrats reclaim power and impose even less restraint.
