President Donald Trump has launched a significant initiative aimed at reshaping the federal landscape in Washington, DC, during a prolonged seven-month campaign focused on federal bureaucracy.
The Trump administration has been keen on tackling what it terms the “deep state,” actively dismissing bureaucrats and veteran politicians. Trump suggests that these moves are influenced by partisan motives.
In a notable Presidential Order issued in February, all regulatory agencies were brought under the purview of the White House, effectively erasing decades of independence and setting the stage for significant cuts to entities like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and USAID.
According to the New York Times, Trump has dismissed or downgraded over 20 inspectors general since taking office. Recently, he terminated Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, due to allegations of mortgage fraud.
Following remarks from Bill Prute, the director of the federal housing finance agency, Trump urged Cook to resign based on claims that she signed documents indicating residence in two different states, referencing his authority under the Federal Reserve Act.
In another shift, Trump reinstated control of the Bureau of Labor Statistics by appointing economist Eji Antoni. He directed the dismissal of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erica Mantelfer after expressing dissatisfaction with her performance in July.
Trump criticized Mantelfer for allegedly misrepresenting employment figures, suggesting they were manipulated to boost projections tied to former Vice President Kamala Harris. This comment came after the BLS reported an addition of 73,000 non-farm payroll jobs in July.
Addressing crime in DC has also become a priority for Trump. Earlier this month, he declared a criminal emergency in the district and deployed the National Guard to manage the situation. He mentioned that once operations in DC are wrapped up, Chicago might become the next focus, potentially followed by New York City.
Trump referred to himself as the “highest law enforcement officer,” with the DOJ currently engaged in investigations related to Russian influences during the 2016 election. Recently, the director of National Intelligence released documents concerning the “Russiagate” controversy, which implicated Trump’s first campaign.
DNI Tulsi Gabbard has reportedly revoked nearly 40 security clearances from intelligence figures, citing concerns about politicized reporting. Gabbard is also taking steps to cut federal waste by reducing the intelligence workforce significantly, suggesting a 40% reduction and closure of specific intelligence reporting centers.
In addition to these moves, the Trump administration has focused on improving transparency, having previously released a wealth of documents related to the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy.
Gabbard has also put out over 10,000 pages of categorized documents linked to the assassination of former senator Robert F. Kennedy. Additionally, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s files were recently reviewed, leading to the release of over 230,000 pages as part of a January Presidential Order.
In a push to eliminate corruption within the Department of Defense, Secretary Pete Hegses removed Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Cruze from the DIA’s leadership, adding to a list of personnel changes since he took office. This decision was in light of a leaked assessment revealing that the US strike on Iran’s nuclear facility did not lead to lasting damage.
Trump is now calling for an investigation into the Smithsonian Museum, alleging left-leaning biases within the institution. In February, he reassessed the board for the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, indicating a desire to appoint his own chairman and altering its programming approach to align with his perspectives.
As part of these changes, former German ambassador Richard Grenell has been appointed as president of the Kennedy Center. Trump also announced that the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw will take place at this venue on December 5th and has introduced the recipients of the Kennedy Center honors for the first time.
Previously, he mentioned that he had a substantial role in selecting the honorees, claiming that nearly all choices had been vetted through him. Recently, the Kennedy Center announced its upcoming theater season, which notably differs from traditional programming by featuring various non-union shows.
