In a 1999 Hoover Institution interview, economist Milton Friedman was asked which federal agencies he would abolish. As host Peter Robinson rattled off the Cabinet list, Friedman gave a blunt verdict on most: "Abolish." Departments of Agriculture and Commerce? "Abolish." Education and Energy? "Abolish." Housing and Urban Development? Gone. Labor? Gone. Transportation? Gone. Even Veterans Affairs, he argued, could eventually be eliminated (with veterans compensated in other ways).
By the end of this exercise, Friedman had effectively reduced 14 Cabinet departments down to about 4.5. The only agencies he'd clearly keep were those handling essential duties like defense, justice, foreign affairs, and treasury functions—the minimal state required to protect the nation and uphold the law.
Fast forward to 2025. The Trump administration too wants to slash federal agencies. The headline-grabbing effort is led by the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), helmed by billionaire Elon Musk and directed by a large number of executive orders. In a few weeks, DOGE has been caught in a whirlwind of activity, with sweeping claims of slashing and cutting, though with little clarity on the forces driving these abrupt shifts.
